"Okay, today we'll focus on our warm-up drills. After that, we'll move on to one-on-one matches. You'll split into teams of eleven. Also, two of our players have prior experience with the senior team."
The coach pointed at Winston and another player standing on the opposite side of the group.
Another player who played for the senior team...
The youth looked a little older than Winston, carrying himself with the confidence of someone who had more experience. I wonder if he'd give me some pointers on how to overcome my nervousness. "Hey, man. I'm Winston Daley. It's nice to meet someone else who has played for the senior team."
Winston extended his hand for a handshake. The youth player glanced at his hand, then back at Winston.
"Tsk."
Without another word, the youth turned and walked away, leaving Winston standing there in confusion.
Maybe he's just shy.
"I heard he got demoted to our under-twenty-one team because he missed training five times in a row. What a shame. He was promising too. The club he came from doesn't promote players from its youth academy until they turn twenty-one."
The voice came from the youth standing beside him, startling Winston. What puzzled him even more was how much this stranger seemed to know.
"Sorry, my name's Oswin... Oswin Alexus. It's my first time with this team. I transferred here two weeks ago."
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Winston Dal—"
Oswin, who had been quietly examining Winston's physique, cut him off. "What a miraculous recovery. I heard you were involved in an accident two weeks ago. What have you been eating?"
Winston simply smiled and rubbed the back of his head. Oswin stood beside him and nodded toward the player who had ignored Winston.
"That guy is Maximilian Jullian. He used to play for Giants Hawks F.C. I believe he plays the same position as you." Winston looked at Oswin, wondering how he already knew his preferred position.
Oswin smirked. "C'mon. Let's join the rest of the team."
Ding!
[User daily Challenge: 25 passes and 2 goals]
[1 goal from long shot]
[1 goal from a header]
Two goals: a long shot and a header goal
"Alright, drill training is complete. Now, form yourselves into teams of eleven. Winston and Maximilian, you can't be on the same team." When Winston looked over, he saw Oswin who was waving him to the other team.
The assistant coach blew the whistle. The opposing team, with Maximilian, began the practice game by exchanging passes before they started attacking.
The Winston team was slowly passing the ball when Winston noticed an opening on the left. The Maximilian team saw this opportunity and attacked down the side, and before they knew it, one of their youth players was already preparing to cross the ball to Maximilian, who was in position.
Thwack - Goal
When it was Winston's turn to restart the game, he passed it to Oswin, who passed it to the youth player on his right. The Maximilian team was holding the line they were all not pursuing the ball, Winston team kept passing the ball back and forth with each other. When Winston passed the ball to Oswin, Oswin passed it to the fullback. The fullback then took his left midfielder position. Oswin called for the ball and nutmegged the youth player. The youth player took the bait, and the fullback sent the ball to Winston. Winston outpaced the defenders who were caught off-guard.
Thwack
The coaches who were watching nodded their heads, impressed by what they were seeing between the two teams. When Winston was heading back to his position, he slightly looked at the system's daily challenges.
[User Daily Challenge]
[passes: 15/25]
[Long shot goal: Complete]
[Heading goal: not completed]
Okay few more passes than I'll be done, man it hard penetrating the other team.
The other youth team restarted the game, Maximilian passed the ball back to the player who was behind him. One of the youth players who was on Winston's team intercepted the ball from the youth player who was trying to do a lob through pass. The Winston team wasted no time in their quick counter attack as if they were playing with each for a long time they started doing a one touch pass within each until the ball reached Oswin who dribbled on the left side of the field and he passed it to Winston nutmegged one of the youth defender who was trying to make Winston panic. Before he could shoot, the other defender seized the ball. And passed it to the right youth fall back who lob through pass the ball to Winston left side where a youth player on the other team waited on the onside position and pushed the ball inward passed it to Maximilian who tapped the ball past the goalkeeper armpit.
Thwack
Winston's heavy breathing disappointed that his ball control was terrible. When Winton passed Maximilian, who was going back to his position, he bumped into Winston's shoulder with a smirk on his face. He ignored it and continued restarting the game this time Winston focused on finishing the passing goal since he didn't look how many passes he has accomplished so far. Winston observed Oswin repeatedly pushing forward and dribbling past the youth players. He also noticed that the youth players started crowding Oswin, who held his own until someone fouled him thirty-six yards (thirty-two meters) away from the goal.
"Let me take this free-kick and I'll bend the ball a little, you will have a short window to head it. Okay," said Oswin who was breathing, talking to Winston, who wanted to give it a try. Winston nodded and went behind the last defender. Oswin bent the ball far right, where Winston was positioning. The youth goal keeper hesitated to come out when Winston headed the ball the youth goalkeeper saw that Winston was heading the ball far left being little off position the youth goalkeeper stretched out his hand and the ball hit the youth goalkeeper's palm and went out for a corner. A whistle rang out, and the couch called them back in.
Wheeew.. Wheeew… wheeew…
"Good effort, but a few of you should focus on your attacking and ball-winning. Oswin performed exceptionally well, and Maximilian matched your pace given you were the sole striker; your ball control is commendable. And Winston works on your ball control and agility, and balance. "
"And also work on your composure. Okay team, that all in three days time will be playing another team. Remember to take breaks and relax. After two days, we will meet here." As Winston was about to check his daily challenge, the coach called him. "Winston reports to the medical personnel. Everyone hit the showers."
Ding!
[User Daily Challenge: Failed]
[Passes: 25/25]
[Long shot goal: Complete]
[Heading goal: not completed]
[Penalty: no points]
[Penalty: User ratings deduction]