Chapter 13: Setting Goals

Chapter 13: Setting Goals

"The football pitch—if we go budget, something decent enough for teaching kids—around 1,500,000 baht. The building with restrooms, keeping it cheap, maybe 1,400,000. Parking lot's essential, that's 400,000. Equipment and decorations for the building and around the field, roughly 500,000. Miscellaneous costs... Total comes to about 4,700,000 baht."

"Right..." After listening to the contractor's lengthy breakdown, that's all Aran could manage.

"So? If you're okay with this, we can discuss the deposit and sign the contract right away. What do you say?"

The words hit Aran like a punch to the gut. He let out a long sigh, his voice barely a whisper.

"I'll come back when I win the lottery..."

He walked out of the contracting company, drifting down the street like a man stripped of his soul. The dream of building a football academy had just hit a wall.

Truth was, Aran had savings from his playing days and endorsement deals. Enough to build the academy, technically. But if he spent that money, he'd be broke. And that's when the real problems would start—the annual operating costs. No matter how he calculated it, they'd run into millions each year. Meanwhile, revenue would never match expenses, even with donations and sponsorships.

Most importantly, there was virtually no profit expectation. Football wasn't essential to kids' lives like cram schools or private tutors that parents would pay tens of thousands for, just to make their children's report cards look perfect.

Aran didn't care about profit, but money was still necessary. Without it, the academy would last two, maybe three years before going under.

If he switched from building to renting someone else's facility, he could cut costs significantly. But then he'd lose control over many things. Maybe he should find additional work first to boost his budget.

With that thought, Aran pulled out his phone and called Coach Chang, a well-connected figure in Thai football.

"How's the academy project going, Aran?"

The question nearly gave Aran a heart attack. He could feel his condition flaring up.

"The budget's not enough... That's why I'm calling."

Click!

The line went dead instantly. Aran sighed, giving the other party time to process before calling again.

"I'm not asking to borrow money," Aran said quickly before Coach Chang could hang up again.

"Why didn't you say that from the start..." Coach Chang's voice carried obvious relief.

"But I still need money to build the academy..."

"..."

"Could you find me some work?"

"What kind of work?"

"If I want something that pays well... I guess it would have to be... national youth team manager?" As soon as Aran finished speaking, he heard what sounded like someone choking on the other end. This probably wasn't going to work.

"That's not happening..."

"What about U18?" Aran tried to negotiate.

Coach Chang cleared his throat before answering, "That's not happening either."

"U23?" Aran wasn't giving up.

"Are you trying to negotiate upward? Aran... are you trying to kill me? Even if you're the highest-achieving player in our country's history, being a national team manager is different. There are dozens of people waiting for that position. Even if there weren't, if I gave someone with zero experience like you control of a team, both the media and fans would destroy us."

Coach Chang finished his lengthy explanation with a sigh before continuing.

"But I know what kind of person you are. Once you set a goal, you won't give up even if it kills you, right?"

"Absolutely," Aran laughed.

"If it's U12, that might be possible," Coach Chang said.

"Huh? Our country has a U12 team?" Aran was confused. The lowest national team level he remembered was U15. He couldn't recall anything below that.

"In about three months, there's going to be a tournament called the Toritaka International Junior Cup. They'll select players under 12 from across the country to compete in Japan. The team manager position hasn't been decided yet."

"Really? Yes, I'll take it," Aran eagerly agreed.

"I'd like to give it to you, but I can't just yet. There are nearly fifty people competing for this position. If you want it, you'll have to compete with others and prove yourself first."

"Compete... prove myself... sigh Here we go again." Aran felt deflated, visualizing the hellish loop of coaches competing against each other for results, ignoring proper youth football development.

Coach Chang had also played abroad and often discussed football problems with Aran. He could hear the sadness in Aran's voice, though there wasn't much he could do alone. One person couldn't change the mindset of hundreds or thousands of people blinded by their desire to win and succeed.

"So what do I need to do? What kind of results are you looking for?"

"About a month before the Japan tournament starts, there will be the Thailand Junior Cup. School teams, clubs, and academies from across the country—over a hundred teams competing for the national championship."

"This is insider information. The manager who leads a team to victory in this tournament will be appointed as the special selection manager for the U12 national team going to Japan."

"So if I don't win, I have no chance..." Aran muttered.

"What do you think? Your approach of ethical training focused on developing kids first, winning second—can it beat the others?" Coach Chang asked.

"It'll be difficult... but I want to try. I'll prove to the whole country what youth football should really be like."

"Heh, if you can win both tournaments, then U18 or U23 won't be a problem. I'll push for you to manage those teams myself."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. This humble servant would be satisfied with U15 first," Aran joked.

"Ha! Win first, then talk. Speaking of which, you need to find kids to join your organization first."

"Right. Say, Coach Chang, do you have any promising kids you could send my way for training?" Aran laughed awkwardly.

"You bastard! Are you trying to poach athletes from my team?" Coach Chang raised his voice.

Aran laughed. "I'm just kidding. I know that stealing and competing for athletes like this only creates unnecessary conflict."

"Actually, I don't really mind. But if I send good kids over, people in the club might not be happy with me either. But if it's a kid with problems that our academy wants to get rid of anyway, that might be possible."

"Oh, get rid of? That sounds interesting. What kind of problems does he have? Discipline issues, sneaking cigarettes, that sort of thing?" Aran mused.

"Nothing like that. He's incredibly hardworking and has no discipline problems whatsoever. Plus, his skills are phenomenally advanced for his age. He's a natural left winger. His ball control, shooting, and passing are all at a high level, far beyond kids his age. Every game he plays, he scores at least two goals and makes at least one assist. He's only twelve now, but he's already been selected for the Thai U15 national team." Coach Chang spoke with a tone filled with regret and disappointment.

"He's that good? Then what's his problem?" Aran asked.

"Emotional control. Over the past year, whenever opponents provoke this kid, he responds with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. He's seriously injured opponents with blood drawn more than five times. Gets a red card every single game he plays. It's too much for my academy to handle. If his father wasn't a wealthy sponsor for our team, he would have been kicked out long ago."

Aran thought about the warning the necklace had sent him. It mentioned that if he couldn't recruit an athlete within the specified time, he'd face a punishment mission. Right now, he had about five days and nine hours left.

He didn't have many options. Besides, someone with this much potential—it would be a shame to let him go to waste.

Aran smiled. "Haha, okay. I'll take this problematic gem myself. Can I get his name or contact information? I'll go find him myself."

Coach Chang snorted through his nose.

"Vihok Wongveha. The youngest son of Worakit Wongveha. Ring any bells? He owns the 'Thai Veha' brand. His business empire includes everything from energy drinks at fifteen baht per bottle, menthol inhalers at thirty baht each, transportation companies worth hundreds of millions, to real estate businesses worth billions. You could call him an ultra-mega-billionaire."