Chapter 13: The New Challenge

The grind had never stopped. It didn't matter that we'd moved up in age groups. The challenge only seemed to grow, and we welcomed it with open arms. Training was tougher now. The older guys were stronger, faster, and their games were more developed. But that didn't matter. If anything, it made us want it more.

KJ had already moved up to the U19 team at Metro Academy. At 17, he was playing with older, stronger players, but that was the way he liked it. It made him sharpen his game. His confidence was growing, and with every game, he felt himself getting closer to that pro dream. His speed and strength made him a constant threat, and though he didn't celebrate his goals like some players, he loved the chance to prove himself.

"You're killing it, bro," Kyle said as he watched KJ's latest game on his phone. Kyle was 12, a right winger in the U15 team, and his dribbling was even more lethal in the older group. He had a way of making defenders look silly, like he was playing a different game altogether. He had no problem taking on the older competition, though sometimes the physicality of the game would leave him frustrated.

But it was Kareem who was the real standout. At 9, he'd been promoted to the U13 team. It was an odd mix—being one of the youngest, but his skills and his soccer IQ made him stand out. His speed and ability to use his body to shield defenders made it look like he belonged. He could outpace players with ease, and the way he read the game was far beyond his years. His dribbling was elegant yet forceful, as if he could switch styles mid-move to match whatever the game needed. He was still just a 9-year-old playing with 13-year-olds, but you could see how quickly he was growing into something special.

The three of us, separated by age and skill level, still found ways to stay connected. We'd train together, push each other, and feed off one another's energy. And even though we all had our individual goals and dreams, there was this underlying current that bound us together. We were all fighting for the same thing.

One thing that always stuck with us was our love for pressure. Big games? Big crowds? Doubters? We thrived on it.

"Pressure either makes diamonds or dust," KJ often said.

In our minds, we were better than diamonds. We always had been. It wasn't arrogance—it was the belief that we were meant for greatness.

But stepping into older age groups wasn't easy. At first, the older players didn't really understand why we were even there. They didn't like it. They'd give us looks like we didn't belong. And there was the physicality. Sure, KJ had the speed and strength, but against 19-year-olds, it was a different ball game. Kyle, with his quickness, would sometimes get knocked off the ball, his balance tested by bigger, stronger defenders. Kareem? He could run circles around players twice his age, but he was still just a 9-year-old—albeit one with the skills of a 14-year-old.

Still, we kept pushing. Training with the older groups was tough, but it made us better. We didn't let the physicality scare us; we used it as fuel. Every bad tackle, every time a defender pushed us around, was just another reason to keep going.

And despite the awkward chemistry, despite the resistance from the older players, we started to show them something they couldn't deny. We were dangerous.

One day after training, as we were cooling down, KJ slapped me on the back. "We're making our mark, bro."

I grinned. "Just a matter of time."

Kyle nodded, tossing his water bottle to the side. "They'll see."

It was true. They were seeing it, little by little. Every drill, every game, every little improvement we made, was one step closer to the dream. And the older guys? They were starting to take notice.

And it was only a matter of time before they started fearing us.