Contract Situation

The ride back to the team hotel was an absolute blast. The players were still buzzing from the thrilling match, their energy contagious as laughter and excited chatter filled the bus. Tom, their coach, stood up in the front and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, listen up!" he announced loudly. "You've all earned it—I'm giving you the next two days off!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the bus erupted into cheers. Some players high-fived each other, while others playfully jostled their teammates in celebration. The team had been pushing themselves to the limit in the group stage, and this break was exactly what they needed to recover before the knockout rounds.