Chapter 17: Biding Time

The weeks after our move up to the higher age groups were tough. A lot tougher than we'd expected. We thought we'd be able to adjust quickly, show everyone that we weren't just up-and-comers, but we were already the best. But reality hit hard. This wasn't like when we were with players our age. The physicality was brutal, the speed of play a whole different level, and the mental aspect? Even more demanding. We weren't dominating anymore. In fact, we were struggling. And no one was letting us forget it.

KJ, now part of the first-team reserve squad, felt it the most. The pace was blistering. Every pass had to be perfect, every touch had to be sharper. He was still fast, still strong, but the game had changed in ways he wasn't prepared for. He wasn't getting as many goals as before. His runs weren't as sharp. And the defenders? They were quicker, stronger, and more experienced than the ones he'd faced in the U19s. At first, KJ shrugged it off. He knew he had it in him to adjust. But the longer the adjustment took, the more the doubts crept in. On the field, his once-feared dribbles were getting snuffed out. His shooting wasn't as clinical. And that fire—the one that had burned so brightly before—felt like it was dimming.

Kyle, now with the U16s, was facing similar struggles. He was used to his dribbling being an automatic advantage, but now defenders were much stronger, quicker to read him. His first step was still dangerous, but the older players anticipated it more. The precision with which he used his moves wasn't as effective anymore. For a while, Kyle's usual cocky grin was replaced by frustration. He didn't show it outwardly, but it was there. Every nutmeg attempt didn't land as smoothly as it used to. The defenders were more physical and not afraid of getting embarrassed. For the first time in a while, Kyle wasn't the standout player, and it made him uncomfortable.

I, too, was feeling the strain. Moving up to the U14s, I thought I could keep using my skills the same way I did with the U13s. But the players in U14 were no joke. Their awareness of the game was sharper, their touches more refined. My dribbling still worked, and my passing was still ahead of everyone else, but it wasn't as easy anymore. The game moved faster. The defenders were smarter. I couldn't just rely on my ability to read the game. I had to fight harder to get the space I wanted. And sometimes, I felt like I was playing catch-up.

At the academy, the whispers started. Coaches started talking, players started noticing. "Are they really all that?" they said. "They looked so good before, but now?" There were rumors circulating—"They've hit their peak," some said. "Maybe they were just big fish in a small pond."

The comments online? Even worse. Our 3KB channel, which had been filled with hype and excitement just months ago, was now flooded with doubters. "Overhyped." "They're not that good after all." "Guess the academy wasn't what they thought it would be." They'd always been the biggest supporters, the ones cheering us on, but now they were ready to tear us down. It stung. But it didn't break us.

The three of us knew this was part of the journey. We'd come so far already. We were all too self-aware to let outside noise dictate our worth. The truth was, we weren't at our best yet. We had a lot more to give. And when we were ready, when we had fully adjusted to this new level, we would silence every single one of those critics.

So we kept our heads down and worked. The three of us didn't talk much about it, but we didn't need to. We were in this together. We were training harder than we ever had before. When others were mocking us, saying we weren't as special as they thought, we didn't respond. There was no need to. We had a plan, and we knew the day would come when our play would do all the talking.

It was a grueling few months. But with every passing week, our bodies began to adjust. We started reading the game at this new pace, learning how to exploit the smallest of openings. KJ began to refine his runs, focusing on timing rather than just speed. His dribbles were becoming more decisive, and his shooting accuracy was returning. Kyle, though frustrated at first, started using his strength and speed in ways he never had before. His dribbling was tighter, more precise. And for me, I started to feel like I was seeing the field again. My passes were sharper, my ability to break defenses open stronger. I was finally getting the space I needed.

The old fire we'd had was burning again, but this time it was fiercer, more focused.

The doubts that had been whispered behind our backs, online, and in locker rooms? They were just noise now. The three of us had decided to let our actions speak for us.

Soon enough, the day would come when we would slap all those doubters in the face—not with words, but with our play on the field.

And when that day arrived, it would be over for everyone.