Chapter 21 Pre-season over! Time for Africa's Supreme Tournament.

2-days later.

Cape Town International Airport. South Africa.

Mark gets of an aircraft wearing Supa Strikas tracksuits whilst walking with crutches as North was waiting for him.

"You are late. Been here since 7 o'clock." North said, looking at his watch.

"It's only 10 am, relax old man. I'm here, aren't I?" Mark said, as they both began walking towards a black car.

"Why did you insist on coming anyway? Theo could have handled this alone with ease." North said, as they put the bags into the car boot and sat in the backseats.

"I'm the captain aren't I, stupid Gala's and press conferences are my job. Plus, my foot is getting better so I wanted my recovery to be here so I can be ready for the first match." Mark said as the car driver started driving.

"There is no way you are in the team on matchday 1." North declared in an authoritative tone.

"I am. It's my job to lead the team out into the new season. So watch me." Mark declared as the car veered into the highway.

Later that night.

Cape Town Conference centre.

-Super League: African Conference division pre-season Gala And press conference. -

Reporter: Welcome to the ACD gala red carpet as we welcome captains, vice captains and head coaches to the start of the New ACD campaign. My name is Renee Dupri by the way and A lot of big names are coming in today, as of right now I am joined by newly promoted Drakensberg United Captain, who won the COSAFA championship last season, Marothi Kau. How are you feeling being here today, Mr Kau?

"I'm just glad to be here Renee, really in awe as we did not think we would be in the African Conference league last season so really just awe." Marothi said, a tall, bulky man with dark skin said, crouching down a little to talk to Renee.

"Welcome to the league and I wish you luck. Thanks for joining me." Renee said as Marothi walked away.

"Whilst we wait for more players and coached to come in, let us look at at the sixteen teams who will be competing in this year's edition of the Super League African Conference Division."

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First up we have the defending Champions and runners up of the Super League No.2 qualifiers, Royal Casablanca from Morocco who will want to go one step closer and finally qualify for the Super League.

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In second, we have last year's Runners up and Super league No.2 qualifiers quarter finalists, Royal Pharaohs fc from Cairo Egypt.

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Third is last year's third place and Super League No.2 qualifiers first rounders, Sporting Tunis for Tunis in Tunisia.

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Fourth is Eagles la Lagos FC from Lagos Nigeria.

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Fifth is AC Windhoek from Windhoek, Namibia.

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Sixth is Gaza Pyramids fc from Gaza Egypt.

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Seventh is Taveta Kilimanjaro fc from the small town of Taveta in Kenya.

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Eighth is Moshi Kilimanjaro FC, From the town of Moshi in Tanzania.

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Ninth is Sporting Timbuktu from Timbuktu In Mali.

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Tenth is Supa Strikas fc from Johannesburg South Africa.

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11th is Aksum football from the city of Aksum in Ethiopia.

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12th is Luanda Fc form Luanda in Angola.

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Thirteenth is Zambezi Victoria, which is a football club from Zambia located near Victoria falls.

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14th is Kinshasa United from Kinshasa in the DRC

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And our two newcomers,

15th is Cape Coast Athletic from Cape coast in Ghana, and.

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From the Drakensberg in Lesotho, Drakensberg United makes its ACD debut.

"Welcome back folks, right now we are joined by Supa Strikas Captain Mark Philips. Mark, a new coach for the new season, we saw how he led the team to survival, what is the mission statement for the new season?" Rennee said as Mark stood on the red carpet with her.

"Well, Rennee, the mission statement is to win the league and gain promotion. A bit ambitious I know given our results last season but that's the plan." Mark replied as he heard a clap in the background with multiple people cheering. He turns his head around to see Dooma walking up to him with Orlando behind him.

"Promotion, hahaha, even the trash can dream these days huh Orlando?" Dooma said as he stood in front Mark who was still in crutches.

"Clearly, glad to be rid of them honestly." Orlando said, standing next to Dooma.

"Seems scum can talk, so maybe trash can dream." Mark replied, completely ignoring Orland.

"See you in the Open, if you can walk by then." Dooma said, bumping Mark and walking past him. Orlando followed but Mark grabbed him by the wrist and starred him in the eyes.

"Do you have no shame, any club would have been better, but you went to them." Mark said, letting go of Orlando and limping into the conference centre, as Orlando stood there, fixing himself.

"Maybe because the one club I loved treated me like trash, I'll treat them like the scum they are." Orlando said, as Mark continued walking away.