Goal!!! : “An Original Short Story”

He laid back on his chair watching the game. A usual routine for him in every football game they played. To be a part of the school team was a big deal, however his case was different. He happens to be a bench warmer. He puts his best efforts during training which impresses the coaches but he never makes it to the starting line-up. Dante is the first freshman to make it to the school team. He is very talented and proficient in the final third. He was discovered by the coaches during an inter-school game between the seniors and the freshmen.

His movement on the ball is brilliant and vibrant. He is a trickster and a speedster. This special ability makes it easy for him to beat his marker with ease. He scored 2 goals in the game which the freshmen lost to the seniors in a thrilling football game of 4 goals to 2.

There he was seated watching his school team play in the national finals. They were trailing 2 goals in the first 15 minutes of game play. He never got the chance to play all through the national competition. It looks like the defending national champions will lose the crown.

Breaking into the first team was no easy task for him however. The school team is star studded, then he was faced with a problem for his team mates don’t like him very much. At training they do not pass to him and when they do, the passes are very bad.

This makes him looks bad.

He was about to give up on playing for the team. Whenever he had those thoughts, he remembers what his mum says

never give up on what you love, keep pushing and moving forward let it be known that at the end you gave your best and that’s all that matters.

The score board still hasn’t changed. Something the losing team thinks of when they are trailing. They are not used to be in this situation. It was half an hour already when the dramatic scene happened. A searching ball was placed perfectly to set up the top scorer of the opposition team 1 on 1 with the goal keeper as he was about to finesse a shot, judging from his deceleration and body faint to hit the ball. The captain of the school team dragged him down in the penalty box that left the referee no choice but to give him a straight red card.

The players gathered around the official to protest the card but all came to no avail. The game was as good as over. One more goal will crush their already broken spirit.

Their team spirit was damaged before the game kicked off. At 8:45am, at the hotel where the team lodged for the competition. Efforts to reach the head coach was unsuccessful. Finally, they got to meet with the hotel officials to get the door opened. The room was clean like no one had been there. However, there was water sound coming from the bathroom as if someone forgot to turn the showers off. There he was lying in the tub, dead. It was a devastating loss for the players and the school. This was meant to be his 200th career game for the school. He died undefeated. They hoped to win the finals in his honour but their performance is abysmal.

The striker that goes by the nickname “The Punisher” with 2 goals up already to his name in the game stepped up to take the spot kick. The atmosphere of the stadium was in euphoria with energetic chants. Echoing his name in synchrony The Punisher! The Punisher! The Punisher!

Something from the Marvel Studio. Everyone could relate to this. His stance and composure is everything to scare a rabbit into its hole.

He hit the ball with a cheeky attempt that sends the goalie the wrong way. In the spur of the moment the players heads went down hoping to wake up from this nightmare. The crowd went wild cheering for goal. Then it happened the ball hit the wood work and out of play for a goal kick.

Unbelievable The Punisher couldn’t punish them for their errors or perhaps the spirit of their late coach saved them some embarrassment. The team struggled till the end of the first period of game play.

At the locker room the assistant coach was furious, practically losing his shit. Yelling on the top of his voice to make a point and be inspirational. Dante just sat there watching everything like a movie in a dramatic war scene where only classical instrumentals are played in slow motion as the dominoes falls. All the while the coach was talking, all he could think off was getting on the field of play.

The second half was under ways with a slow tempo. The opposition was highly organized taking advantage of the depleted team of their opposition. The assistant coach switched tactics to 3-5-1 defensive. To cover up for the red carded player which was working pretty well to counter the opposition attempts.

He looked at the coach with the corner of his eye hoping he won’t notice him. The coach was pacing and agitated with his team’s performance desperate for a goal to give them a fighting chance. That the 200th career game of the late head coach will be won in to honor him. At the time he looked at the coach their eyes crossed each other. He sank into his chair like no one will notice him. Well no one notices me anyway. He thought.

Still in thinking…will coach bring me in, will he consider me. Still in day dream and thoughts, the fitness coach came towards him after receiving instructions from the coach. Finally this maybe my moment.

Hey son, he said. Go get some water in the locker room we are out of water, hurry!

He was disappointed but dashed anyway to get the water as he returned. The coach ordered him to warm up. The game was half an hour to finish. He warmed up on the side-line looking at the game keenly. He noticed that his teams’ top striker Akpan was tired which he concluded that was the player he will be coming in for.

The ball went out of play as the fourth official signaled the substitution. Less than an hour remaining to go, he got a pass from his team mate. Dashing on the right flank of the field, stretching the opponent as he tried to whip in a cross.

He was brought down in a careless challenge that drew a foul at the edge of the penalty box toward the corner flag.
An indirect free kick. The first real chance on goal since the beginning of the second half. A cross was sent into the box but a poor defensive clearance from the opposition gifted Dante with an easy tap-in that puts the ball in the back of the net.
The fans went wild as the ball went it. Game On. The team’s spirit was fired up after scoring. They kept on putting more pressure on the opposition. The wining team slows down the tempo of the game in an attempt to run the clock down. A poorly misplaced pass by the captaining of the opposing team resulted to a quick counter for the trailing team. A lob pass came the way of Dante with a shooting chance at goal in the 18 yard box but he square plays with a flick over the opposing defender that sets up his team mate in the box. A perfect timed pass in the air which Dami followed up brilliantly with a half volley sending the ball to the back of the net after it smashes the ground for the second goal leveling the score line.

With 5 minutes to the end of the game. 3 players came in the opposing team. They became more aggressive in their attack. Pressing higher and higher thereby pushing them into the box.
3 minutes extra time of play was given. If the game ends as a draw in full time they will move into extra time. As the game was going with their tired legs. It was uncertain they will be able to keep up with the pressure or perhaps force the game in to penalties then take their chances there.

A low cross was driven into the box for Micheal aka The Punisher. The ball was poorly cleared which deflected towards the Punisher at the end of the goalie. A goal!

He scored the game is over. The Punisher as done it. Celebrating like he had won a war.

But wait… The referee has disallowed the goal. What’s going on everyone thought? After discussing with the assistant referee/lines man. The goal was disallowed for infringement. The Punisher reached out to the ball to put it in the net and for that he was given a red card.

The game was balanced. The Punisher was arguing he was right foolishly even after it was showed on the display screen in replay. He walked out of the game shamefully. A free kick was given with less than 20 seconds to go. The goal keeper passed to his left wing bank for a build-up play.

He looked up to an angle of 45 degrees of the field of play to find Dante. Just like in training Dante could read the game perfectly, sneaking up behind his marker to open up for a long pass which was set up beautifully for him. A perfect pass to him at the edge of the D curve in front of the box. In a now or never situation Dante looks at the spinning ball, studying it like physics watching it come straight to his preferred foot, he strikes the ball wickedly without allowing it to touch the ground.

This stunning effort hits the wood work, shaking the bar before eventually crossing the line.
He ran straight to the team on the side line and the coaching staff with cheers and tears of joy. Players were jumping on him and pilling up like heaps till he was completely covered.

The final whistle was blown. They ended the game as Champions.

As the team was celebrating their victory. HE remembers again what his mother says to him.

never give up on what you love, keep pushing and moving forward let it be known that at the end you gave your best and that’s all that matters.

THE END

Original Image Source before photshop edit