Chapter 5

He was medium built with a short dark hair. You are fast; he said to Bernard

So are you; Bernard said

Thanks. I'm Jian Ji, you can call me Jack

Name is Bernard, you can call me Bernard 😋 Am glad we ended with Sprinting, Jack said. 'It makes me feel better now.'

Yeah, Bernard replied looking at the manager again ' it makes you feel more confident. Makes you assured that there is something you are better at than the whole lot of them and that we have than something better already.

'Am still worried about the strength drills though', Jack said. I couldn't show my full strength.

Hmp, look at me Bernard said with a grin, so what i failed that test miserably but try me when it counts he said as he flexed his biceps and felt his golf ball muscles.

Yeah right, Jack said with a chuckle. What position do you play anyway?, you are not a striker right?

No. Winger. How about you?[ "though accurately on the forms it AM(RCL)"]

Fullback.

Good, Bernard smiled. It meant they weren't in a competition with each other. Bernard looked across the pitch towards the stand for the parents and guardians.

Is your Dad there? Jack asked

Naa it my Uncle, You?

He is not here.

Couldn't he make it.

He could but he thinks football is a waste of time .

Serious 😲

I know, Jack said like ' FOOTBALL is a waste of time!'

After a the short break, we were separated into teams for the 11 vs 11 match. 30 mins for each half . Bernard was excited as he imagined all that he would do in the match. They were separated into teams, Bernard was happy to have Jack in his team playing the leftback position. Bernard was put upfront with another kid in a 442 flat formation. Bernard had a miserable game in the first few minutes were he was closed down and barged of balls though he thought the last one was a foul. Since the refree thought it was not a foul, then it was not a foul. He knew what everyone was thinking, the lad is too small he is easily barged of the ball.Bernard knew he was being targeted because of his pace but since the defenders were not giving him time on the ball, he dropped right behind his striking partner and made the formation a 4411 and tried to use his passes and movements to move past the defenders. In a brief lull in the match, Bernard told his teammates to make passes to him hard and faster.

Towards the end of the first half, Jack who was overlapping did a wall pass with the left midfielder and moved into space. He shot a low hard pass towards the box. Bernard rushed for the ball with a defender right behind him. Without stopping the ball, he flipped the ball backwards and with a sharp turn got behind the defender who tried to lunge at him but lost his balance. With a few steps, Bernard had already entered the box with loads of space in front of him. Defenders rushed to close him down but he quickly lobbed the ball over their heads towards the far post and it was shot with a half volley by the striker into the goal.

After the break, the second half began with Bernard being in cruise mode. The defenders were indecisive about whether to close Bernard down or give him space which gave him time on the ball. Bernard setup two more goals and with a minute left decided to show he could also score and not just create chances. Bernard took the ball at edge of the box on the right wing, he had been using just his right foot throughout the match. As the defender came up to him,Bernard broke through by dribbling with his left foot which wrong footed the defender, he dummied a pass and went pass the next defender which brought him into the box.Bernard lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper as he saw him come out his line......