Coach’s Verdict

Jace Holloway wiped the sweat from his forehead as he bent over, hands on his knees. His lungs burned, his legs ached, and his shirt clung to his skin, drenched in sweat.

Yet, he still wasn't satisfied.

Not yet.

He had spent the last two weeks pushing himself harder than ever. Training in the mornings, grinding through gym sessions and staying late after team practice to work on his weaknesses.

But no matter how much he improved, he knew there was still another level to reach because there were other better teammates than him.

And if he wanted to earn his spot for the upcoming friendly match, he had to reach it.

After a warm-up, Coach Davies gathered the squad around him.

"Alright, lads. Two weeks ago, some of you were still finding your feet. But that was two weeks ago. No excuses now—we're getting close to matchday, and I need to see who's really ready."

Jace felt his pulse quicken because he wanted to be a starter for that match.

Coach continued, "Today's session is simple: match simulation. No drills, no stoppages. Just pure football. You fight for your place, or someone else takes it. That's the reality of this sport."

Jace exchanged a glance with Marcus, who smirked. "Guess this is where we prove ourselves."

Jace nodded. He wasn't just here to play anymore.

He was here to compete and prove to Coach Davis that he was the best winger in the team.

The teams were split, and Jace lined up in his now-familiar left-wing position. Across from him? Theo.

Brilliant.

Theo had been his biggest challenge in training—strong, smart, and relentless. Beating him wasn't just about speed or strength. It was about being better in every aspect.

The scrimmage began, and from the first whistle, it was clear—this wasn't just another training match.

Tackles flew in harder. Pressing was tighter. Decision-making had to be instant.

Within minutes, Jace received a pass from Marcus and immediately felt Theo closing in.

Instinct told him to sprint.

But he had learned from his mistakes.

Instead of just trying to burst past Theo, Jace shifted his body to shield the ball. He felt Theo press against him, trying to push him off balance.

Jace planted his feet and absorbed the contact.

Then, with a quick flick, he spun away—leaving Theo lunging at empty air.

It was the first time in weeks that Jace had truly bypassed him.

He surged forward, heart pounding, and crossed the ball into the box—Marcus rose highest and powered a header into the net.

Goal.

Jace clenched his fists.

He was getting stronger. Smarter. Faster.

And most importantly?

He was effective.

The game continued, and Jace found himself more involved than ever. He was no longer just an isolated winger trying to race down the line.

He was part of the team.

He dropped deep to link up the play. He cut inside to create space for overlapping runs. He pressed aggressively when the opposition had possession.

Each decision was made quicker, sharper, and with more confidence.

But football wasn't just about attacking only.

It was about surviving under pressure.

And soon, Jace found himself in a situation he wasn't used to—defending.

Late in the second half, the opposition won possession and launched a counterattack down Jace's wing.

For a split second, he hesitated.

Then, he sprinted back.

He tracked his opponent's run, but as the winger cut inside, Jace made a mistake—he overcommitted.

With a simple touch, the opponent switched direction, and Jace was beaten.

A dangerous cross followed, and the ball was nearly turned into the net—saved only by a brilliant clearance from their centre-back.

Jace let out a frustrated sigh.

Marcus jogged over and patted his shoulder. "You did well to track back, but don't dive in too early. Stay on your feet, force them wide."

Jace nodded, absorbing the advice.

It wasn't enough to be a threat going forward.

He had to be reliable everywhere and made sure to adapt to learn how to defend also because football wasn't all about tackling only.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw, and the players gathered near the sideline as Coach Davies clapped his hands.

"That was football," he said. "No half-hearted challenges, no passengers. That's what I want to see."

His gaze swept across the squad.

"Some of you took a big step forward today. Others? You've still got work to do."

Jace held his breath.

Coach's eyes landed on him.

"Holloway—a big improvement. You're starting to understand the game, not just run in straight lines. But there's more to do. Defensively, you can't afford to switch off. You want a starting spot? Show me you can be counted on for the full ninety."

Jace nodded. "I will."

He wasn't just here to compete anymore.

He was here to win.

That evening, Jace didn't go home after training.

Instead, he stayed behind, working on his defensive positioning and learning some tricks in tackling too.

Theo, despite being his toughest opponent, had agreed to help.

"If you're serious about improving, I'll push you harder than anyone else," Theo had said. "But no complaining when I keep beating you."

Jace smirked. "We'll see about that."

For the next hour, Theo put him through relentless drills—tracking runners, positioning himself correctly, learning when to tackle and when to hold off.

Jace's brain worked just as hard as his body.

By the end of the session, he was drenched in sweat and exhausted, but he had learned something invaluable which could also be useful to him a lot because you were supposed to prove to Coach Davies he would do great.

Football wasn't just about what he could do with the ball.

It was about what he could prevent the opposition from doing, too.

And now, he was ready to do both.

With just a week until the friendly match, Jace had one thing on his mind:

Starting.

He wasn't the same lost track star who had walked onto the pitch weeks ago.

He was stronger, sharper, smarter, relentless, Unpredictable and a dangerous Winger.

And he had one goal left:

To prove he belonged and deserved to be called a footballer(Wimger).

To prove he was more than just a sprinter.

To prove he was qualified to be a footballer star.