The sun had already set and the sky had turned the color of bruised plum when William Gill turned the corner leading to his humble abode. Each step that he took resembled something that was lifting a bag of lead weights as his legs trembled from the most rigorous training session to date drilling in the art of football with none other than coach Tuchel. William felt the most exquisite feeling of having accomplished something that could only be presented to a real professional coach in the field. In a flash, he brushed off the pain in his legs, as the thought of achieving his dreams gave a sudden new meaning to his fatigue and he resumed walking towards home.
The delicious smell of garlic and stewed meat wafted through the front door announcing to William that his father had prepared his favorite meal. Mr. Gill stood by as he stirred the hot mixture in a pot using a wooden stick. As he caught sight of William, he smiled a tired smile and gave him a knowing look. William gave his father a tired salute before informing him that he needed to wash before having dinner.
While washing off the grass and dirt William had gathered from the day's training, he caught sight of himself in the cracked mirror. The young footballer must have been feeling like Zinedine Zidane when he first set foot on the pitch for the first time in his life. William had found an inner strength surge through him that drove him to straighten his back. He finished washing and returned to the kitchen to find his father waiting patiently for him. Mr. Gill set two steaming bowls of soup on the dining table and gestured for the young man to have his meal.
However, just as William leaned back to enjoy his favorite garlic soup, a knock at the front door sent him back to his senses. William's father gave his son a questioning look before getting up from the dining chair and walking towards the front door. The man at the front door had on a top class evening dress to cover against the freezing cold night. Mr. Gill greeted his guest warmly as a pleasant surprise since it was not everyday that they had visitors at that time of the year.
Mr. Anthony, your Blackpool representative," announced Mr. Gill as he ushered the visitor into the house.The young man knew very well that Mr. Anthony was sent to scout talents in the neighborhood. As such, the visitor removed his black coat upon entering the sitting room where William and his father waited for him. Mr. Gill told his son to clear some space so that the visitor could feel at home. The only other home furniture that could be considered comfortable was the old sofa that served as the throne of the imaginary tribal chief in the room. With a deep breath, William came closer to Mr. Anthony. His father had given him a gentle pat on the shoulder, so this was the moment to absorb the latest news from the Blackpool Football Club. Mr. Anthony cleared his throat to prepare the young man for his announcement. William's heart beat faster as he looked up to the visitor.
"First of all, let me extend my warmest welcome to our Blackpool football family," said Mr. Anthony. William had now understood the meaning of his father's words as he now realized the situation. "It is with great pleasure that we inform you that your Blackpool club has decided to call you to join the training team. You will train with the rest of your fellow colleagues from the morning of the following day till the day of your trial. You will also be provided with accommodation and coaching equipment for free."
William turned around to look at his father, "Are you joking?" he exclaimed in disbelief as he turned to face the visitor. "What do you mean? I thought that it was a plan for me to go to the pitch on the morning of the day of the trial to showcase my skills to you and the whole board of directors of Blackpool F.C.?"
"William, there are no pitches in the concept of the trial. We want to see whether you can handle the pressure on the pitch and survive the battles," replied Mr. Anthony giving William a look. William asked, Is coach Tuchel aware of this?"Of course, he does. It was his idea to change the plan because he felt that it was best for you to join the team and see how your personal skills could play out through an 11- a- side match," replied Mr. Anthony surprised at his question. It dawned on William that the personal training sessions he had with coach Tuchel in the last few days had been in preparation for this very moment. In fact, his coach was a genius and he had no doubt that he knew better than most people what he was doing. Mr. Anthony continued, "I have been having discussions with coach Tuchel about this matter. He feels that you are more than ready for this challenge. Your potential is outstanding, and he saw it even before we had that meeting we had with the Chelsea board of directors.
William felt as if there was a fluttering butterfly deep in his abdomen as he once again pictured the match in his mind. It was as if he was already playing it out in real life. He saw himself grappling with an enormous defender when a sudden shoulder check sent him back and he retaliated by delivering a flawless roundhouse kick to the ball sending it flying into the far corner of the net. All these thoughts sent an electric jolt running down William's spine exciting him to the core. These images were made possible by the hard training that William had done with his coach, Tuchel, that day, which had given him a proactive edge.
He turned to his father for support again, feeling that he could not do this without him. Mr. Gill gave him a reassuring squeeze of his hand. "If you are happy about this, then so am I, son," Mr. Gill said as tears streamed down his father's cheeks. "Because I want you to realize your dreams, William." The tension in William's body eased as he listened to his father's words. He was beyond lucky to have such a supportive father who did not fail to encourage him when he needed support the most. The words had stirred something in him and William knew he had made the right decision.
"Are you ready to move?" asked Mr. Anthony as the visitor put on his black coat. William's heart skipped a beat as he felt himself closer to achieving his dreams. "Come, son. I will come to pick you up early in the morning. Take a good rest, and prepare yourself for the challenge ahead. The Blackpool base is a place where only the best players survive," said the visitor before departing. After Mr. Anthony had left, William went to his room to prepare for the day ahead.
Hearing the front door creak as the visitor left, William stood motionless in the middle of the room. He felt all the excitement bubble within him as he prepared for the challenge ahead. He wanted to shout for joy that the day of his dreams had come, but suddenly, a wave of self- doubt surged through him from within. The day of the match had come and the thought of playing against the best defenders and midfielders in the league terrified him. Could he really do it? Could he play like he always imagined? This was the moment of truth and William knew his life would never be the same again from tomorrow.