Chapter 19: Probably a friend

“All right we are all here now… let’s start the training…”

As soon as Sam said that everyone went into the field.

“I will be the goalkeeper” Saying that Herbert, the goalkeeper of our school wore his gloves and took his position.

10 of us were there, all my school mates… they had come to help me with my training… Alex, Paul, Evan, Shaun and I formed our team which had only one task that was to pass the ball among ourselves and try to break through the defense… the other team had Sam, Max, Johnny, Danny and Herbert…

The training got underway, and our team had much possession of the ball but the defense held and we couldn’t break through… the five of us had cornered their defense but still we didn’t get the chance to score a goal… we passed and passed but still didn’t find any loopholes in the opposition defense… very much like what Arsenal face nowadays against strong defensive sides like Chelsea and Manchester United… in a professional game it was only one individual moment of magic that could give a breakthrough…

All of us tried many things starting from long range efforts to crosses… but the result was the same… Sam would always stop any of us from scoring… if it was a long range effort he would block it and if it was a cross he would always rise up and meet it before any of us and then would head it clear…

“Darn it! Why can’t we score?? Am I really that rusty??” I thought to myself.
“Hey Miroku, try harder buddy… you can do it…” Sam tried to cheer me up.
“Can I really do it? Or have I become an ordinary footballer whereas my friends have improved…” I wondered.

Alex took a long range effort… a drive from 20 yards out… it was terribly wayward… it completely missed the target and flew over the bar…

“You call that a shot! That is goddamned average… no below that even…”

The voice came from a stranger, a boy of our age but we didn’t see him in our area before.

“And who the hell are you?!” Alex was quick to respond.
“That is none of your business… I am only here to see HIM…”

Saying that he pointed towards me.

“Me? Who is this guy?” I wondered.
“Show me your skills…”
“Show him my skills… I am yet to find my rhythm, I can’t show him any skills… but why should I even bother about him??” I thought to myself.
“I am sitting down here while you guys play… let’s see what that poacher of yours can do…” Saying that the boy sat down on one of the benches kept beside the field.

That was my nickname… but I was nowhere near my best… “Poacher” was a far cry for me…

“Well, let’s begin once more…” Sam said as he brought the ball from the bushes behind the goal post.

We all began again. The same story, passing and no penetration. Crosses but no headers…

“I am fed up of you guys… let Miroku shoot from distance…” that guy spoke again.
“I think he is right Miroku, you take the shot from distance this time…” Sam handed me the ball.

I placed the ball 20 yards out of the penalty box… and readied myself for the shot…

“Here goes…” I said as I started my run.

I saw that guy getting up from his seat and looking intently at my run up…

I drove the ball for a goal…

“That was lousy… a toothless strike… pretty easy to score against an average goalkeeper but up against a good goal keeper… u can’t score…” that guy commented on my shot.
“Hey, we aren’t listening to your rubbish! Just get lost ok…” Sam was quick to come to my defense.
“Stop it Sam, he is right…” I said to Sam.
“Now Miroku, try that same shot against me…” Saying that he went and literally snatched the gloves from Herbert and took his place in front of the goal.
“Can I really beat that guy?” I thought to myself.

His confidence was absorbing whatever confidence I had in my abilities… I felt powerless…

He threw the ball towards me…

“Go give it a shot… I am ready for it…”
“Can I do this??” I thought to myself.
“Teach him a lesson Miroku, we know you can…” Everyone started backing me up.

I didn’t know what to do… I was absolutely dumbfounded… the sudden approach by that guy totally undid me…

“I will try to score against you… But I know I will fail…” I thought to myself.

As I prepared my run up only one thought came to my mind… the thought that I will fail to score… the negativity totally consumed my positive belief in my abilities… as it is I wasn’t the same player I was before being injured… I had completely lost my touch…

I hit the ball with the same power and in the same direction… and as I had thought it didn’t go in… that guy saved it…

“See I told you can’t score against a good goalkeeper…” the boy bounced the ball while saying that.
“A good goalkeeper?” I wondered to myself.
“Who are you?” Sam stole that from my mouth.
“A good goalkeeper…just know that for now… you will come to know everything later on…”

That wasn’t the answer I was looking for… that wasn’t the answer anyone expected…

I smiled…

“You are smiling, Miroku?” Sam asked me astonished.

I didn’t answer him but I knew in my mind that the guy whoever he was, was really someone with great abilities… if I could train with him I could regain my former self…