Utrecht's Star

After the short celebration from the team, Amani quickly peeled off his damp jersey and padded to the showers. The hot water drummed on his skin, washing away the sweat and chill of the night.

As the steam rose, he replayed flashes of the match in his mind: the deafening roar after his first assist, the astonished faces of the opposing defenders after one of his killer passes, the thump of his heart when he first stepped on the field.

He braced his hands against the cool tile and let the water hit his face. It didn't fully feel real yet. That goal! It was beautiful!

Minutes later, clean and changed into a thick navy tracksuit and a beanie pulled low over his ears, Amani emerged into the brisk night. He found Malik outside the stadium's side exit, faithfully straddling their two battered academy-issue bicycles.