Not the welcome I was expecting (II)
Happy's mom was taken to the VIP area while Happy and his friends were with Jones at the tunnel.
"hey Jones, if I could recall clearly you said that you hated soccer, so what are you doing here", Happy asked him while giving him a questioning gaze.
"hey don't be silly, I said I hate playing soccer and not I hate making money from it. Besides there are different ways of earning cool cab from soccer without playing it, and who do you think pushed for the signing of you and your merry band", Jones responded to him while giving him a 'are that dumb stare'.
"oh, and I don't know how to thank you enough for your efforts", Happy replied as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The club's director walked up to the human aided platform at the centre of the soccer pitch, as he walked on the fans cheered loudly.
"Welcome dear esteemed fans of this great club", the club director said with a pause as the fans cheered with great fervour before he continued.
" you know last season a wasn't great season as we had to fight to survive so that we can qualify for the player of champions, but we but along the line we lost great players who thought that club wasn't good enough. And I wonder how we could pull this through, then I saw you guys telling me you would stay by me, then I realized that the backbone of the club was you all"
The fans again roared loudly at his speech but the noise died down at his signal.
"looking back I we knew that we needed help as most of our top players are gone as free agents, we became greatly weaken and due to that we lot three of our preseason games, drew two and with one game left. Then you whispered in my ears that I should go to down to Frontline Soccer Academy to sign the ones you love to play in our colours and true to my word here they are", he paused to listen to the chants of the fans as a bright smile appeared on his face.
'and I just hope that we made the right gamble'
"And there I found a great defender, who don't shy away from the charge of the attackers. I present to you Ash Sharma".
Ash came out of the tunnel with a bright smile in his face as he waved at the fans who chanted at the top of their lungs, while the pyrotechnics have off a colourful display at his sides.
"raging bull"
clap clap clap clap clap
"raging bull"
clap clap clap clap clap
"raging bull"
clap clap clap clap clap
Hearing their chants Ash was amused by it as it most have probably been coined off from his superpotentia technique, he walked up to the raised platform and shook hands with the club director and Jones who was surprisingly the one in charge of the club's transfers.
"you are one hell of a person", Ash eyed Jones who had a smug expression on his face.
"na, am really on the feisty side", Jones retorted.
After the handshakes Ash was presented with a jersey that has his name and his number (22) as he took photos with the directors.
With all done the club director looked at the fans as he prepared to call in their next signed player.
"Also my journey didn't end there as I was hellbent to fulfil the words as I had said to you, and then I can across another exceptional player who what it takes to be a leader. I present to you Luis Shane".
Luis walked out of the tunnel towards the platform while he blew air kisses at the fans which made Jones cringe at the sight.
"yo, is your friend a g*y or are you all are because you seem fine with it, really look at him go. He might probably give you a kiss you if you ask for it", Jones whispered to Ash but he didn't get a reply instead what he got was his foot to be crushed by Ash who did it without anyone noticing.
Luis reached the platform and also shook hands with the directors as he was presented with a jersey with his name on it and his number (15) as he took photos with the directors.
"then I also met a sharpshooter, he makes sure he never misses his target. I present to you Luke Marcus", the club director smiled as the fans was waving the banners and flags of the club with great enthusiasm.
Luke walked straight to the platform with a poker face but inside he bubbling like a volcano the hat was near eruption, he reached the platform and also shook hands with the directors as he was presented with a jersey with his name on it and his number (18) as he took photos with the directors.
* * * * * * * * * *
Happy stood nervously at the tunnel way as he a
waited for hiss name to be called when he felt someone pull his jacket sleeve.
"sir are you feeling nervous", a little ball girl asked him as she lightly pinched his jacket. Happy squats in front of the girl as he nodded his head to answer.
"if that is the case, the take this", she added and gave him the club's personalized scarf before scooting away.
Slowly standing to his feet, Happy unfolds the scarf that was given to him by the little girl and he felt himself strengthened as his determination rose to finish what he had already started and that moment his name ring throughout the whole stadium.
"Happy Petra"
Walking with slow steady steps, he stopped in front of the pitch at the end of the tunnel way. Looking round at the fans cheering him on, he placed his palm on the field and kissed the back of his hand before raising it up, and as if on cue the pyrotechnics went off.
'o boy, you really know how to make an entry', Jones thought with a smirk.
* * * * * * * * * *
Lilith stomped her foot as she entered her house, her face was still red due to embarrassment but as she reached her room she seemed to calm down as the four eyes of her pet vulpip stare at her with curiousity.
Seeing the stare of her pet, Lilith let out a heavy sigh as she slumped on the bed while the vulpip climbed her body.
"sorry for my behaviour, but today I met a naive boy who seem to be the one that might save this realm and there is something about him that makes my heart beat. I just wish to see him soon", Lilith mused as she caressed the back of her pet as its three tails flicked in pleasure.
"purr"
"what you want to meet him, ok, don't worry you will meet him but I have a nagging feeling that he will come to us", Lilith eyes closed as she drifted slowly to sleep
* * * * * * * * * * *
After the handshake and the photos, Happy and his friends were gestured to speak but they all dumped the responsibility on Happy and said that he will speak for them. Walking up to speak to the fans after he had caused his friends to his satisfaction in his mind, Happy took in a deep breath and the next words caught everyone by suprise.
"e dey choke"
(this is one of the Nigerian slangs that some people use to express themselves when they are excited, shocked or suprise. Some even use it to mock their enemies when something good has happened to them)
"and this means that I am excited. When the deal came I thought I was not good enough, that I will be rejected by the fans of this great club but you all have me a welcome that I wasn't expecting. That is why I have made a promise, that the ten years trophyless drought will be forgotten because there is one thing I believe", saying that Happy pull the scarf from his neck and raised it high as the words on it was displayed for all to see.
"as long as you live till you die just know you are not alone"
After hearing Happy say the club's quote, the fans quoted his words back to him.
"as long as soccer exist my heart will still beat".
Mrs Petra stood on her feet in the VIP area cheered her son as tears flowed down her cheeks.