Chapter 9: Core of the team
Isaac found it difficult to adapt to his new role. Since he was not very good on the ball, he generally preferred to touch it as little as possible. He had trained himself to be a player who did more off the ball, and he had witkrd to be efficient with as little touches as possible.
However, in the midfield, he kept receiving the ball. He escaped having to dribble or take on players by releasing the ball quickly, but this was difficult.
It also meant that he was finding it difficult to progress the ball forward, since every time he recieved the ball, he was being pressed. He was afraid of trying to escape the player marking him so close to his own goal, since losing the ball there was far more dangerous. That's why, being their teams creative midfielder, his fear of taking a risk was reducing his teams chances.
Nevertheless, he was trying his best to play progressive passes, and he made sure to drop deep to help advance the attack. Furthermore, his awareness helped him, since he was able to find the easiest forward passes, avoiding backward or horizontal passes.
He was however, doing very well on the defensive side of things.
After a long ball to the red team striker, possession was lost. The opposition immediately countered by sending the ball to their midfielder. He received the ball and spun around a player before spearing into the opposition half.
Isaac sprinted toward him, before blocking his path.
The midfielder began performing rapid step overs, then he tried to break through Isaac's left hand side.
"Shucks, that's my weak side!" Isaac thought to himself. He found it difficult to react, so he simply spun around, while his hand stuck out in an attempt to slow the players momentum. Then, he stuck out his right leg, trying to knock the ball away from the player.
He felt his leg hit against the ball, and the midfielder was forced to jump over his outstretched leg to avoid falling over.
Isaac sprinted towards the loose ball, beating his compatriot in the midfield.
As he ran, his head twisted back and forth like a pigeons, as he scanned the pitch.
He had loads of space, which gave him time to launch a pass forward. His passing ability wasn't the best, but that didn't matter because his team had Sfiso's speed. Furthermore, his average passing ability would be enough, as long as he found the right passes.
"There..." his foot smashed into the ball, sending a low pass into the middle of the field, where the teams attacking midfielder was.
The player recieved the ball unmarked, and spun around with it. He instantly sent a pass to the right flank into the space behind the defense. Theo picked up the ball there, and carried it for, while being harassed by the oppositions left back. He twisted and turned, eventually losing his marker and creating space for himself.
He proceeded to pass the ball towards the center of the field, where Sfiso had made a run.
Sfiso sprinted to the ball, before swinging his right foot. His leg sent the ball curling around the defense, on a journey toward the goal. It sailed through the air like an eagle, and it curved beautifully.
All breath was bated, all gazes focused, all hearts full of expectation.
The keeper was already diving, and he knew that he was his team's final hope. But he was not enough.
"Goal!" Isaac punched his fist through the air.
The opposition seemed to be filled with grief and desperation, and understandably so. They were losing 2 to nothing.
When they started play, the first half ended, and they were soon sitting on the ground outside the field as they rested and drank water.
"Boy, come here," The coach called Isaac.
"Yes coach?" Isaac asked.
"You need to go forward more. You're doing well on the defensive side of things, but you can do more offensively."
"The thing is coach... I'm not good at dribbling..." Isaac rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"The just try to link up play. Do more off the ball, move into space and always be aware. This will give you space and time to make decisions. Just play, boy." The coach advised him. Isaac nodded.
Soon, the loud, ear piercing whistle of the referee signaled the start of play. Isaac felt his metal studs crush the rocks as he shifted the weight in his legs. The breeze tickled his face, and his heart was like a drum, as it beat rhythmically within his chest.
He threw a gaze around the field, where his teammates stood. Each of them wore shirts that belonged to big clubs. Barcelona, Manchester united, Bayern Munich, and even local clubs like Orlando pirates or kaizer chiefs.
However, above those shirts were blue nips, every player donning blue in unison. Isaac twisted his head to watch the opposition, who had just started. They looked fierce, determined, like warriors defending their homeland. They were defending something, just like how Isaac defended his ability to change his living condition.
However, only one would win.
Isaac joined his team in pressing, and he noticed something. The oppositions attacking midfielder had switched from the right side of the field, to the left. It was like he was avoiding Isaac.
"He's trying to escape me..."
Soon, none other then the skilled midfielder helped progress his teams attack.
After dribbling past their right midfielder (both teams playing with 4-3-3) he launched a ball over the defense to release the left winger. The winger who found himself right before the goal, selflessly passed to the striker who finished the chance.
"Damn!" Isaac could only join his team, as they prepared to restart play.
Isaac followed the coaches instructions, and restarted play.
He felt his bones creak, and the warm sensation of his muscles straining as he dropped into his own half, receiving a pass from the center back.
He immediately passed to the defensive midfielder before sprinting behind the midfielder who had tried to put pressure on him.
"Return!" He yelled.
The return pass came, and Isaac received the pass on his right foot and faced his body toward the opposition goal, allowing him to easily continue his run.
Like a cheetah dashing through the Savanah, smelling, and searching for prey, searching for weakness, Isaac tore through the field, with yards of space free for him to use.
"That skilled guy is coming to mark me, i don't want a one on one so..."
He smashed a pass to their slender, attacking midfield player.
Immediately after passing, Isaac dashed behind the defensive midfielder, and into the space between the defense and midfield.
He raised his hand through the air, and the return pass came. Isaac scanned the pitch and realized something. The opposition midfielder was running at him. That wasn't the only thing, the opposition left back was also being pulled out of position, leaving a huge space.
This meant Theo, was free.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone