章 1: Lee Sung Min
Like many children that grew up watching football, Lee Sung Min dreamt of being a professional football player one day. And maybe even become the best player in the world, heck he even saw himself lifting the ultimate trophy, the fifa world Cup and winning the most sought after individual award, the Balon d'or many times in his dreams. But unlike many children, he actually decided to pursue this dream of his by enrolling in a small academy at a young age. This taught him quickly that dreams are not the only thing that makes one successful, to become an average professional footballer you need to be extremely exceptional with the ball, and only a few are truly blessed.
Right now, Sung Min is seated on the bench as the 3rd back up striker, watching his team 'Momyung fc' lose 6 - 0 at home to the third weakest team in the Korean league's second division 'Baekche'. He is 24, a tad too skinny, has terrible eyesight and an all round cheerful dude. The fan section for the home team was completely empty, while the away team fan section was half filled.
"Finishing last position for the third season in a row is crazy." Kim Tae Hyun, the thirty six year old back up defensive midfielder said.
"It's not even embarrassing anymore." Neji, the back up goal keeper replied him. Sung Min was seated in the middle of the two carefully observing the game, "what are you guys going to do after the game?" Neji added.
"Probably going to bring back my daughter from school, then play fifa till midnight." Tae Hyun replied.
"How about we all come over to your place and play with you, I will bring drinks with me." Ginjoru, 30, the starter center back for the team said, he is sitting at the bench because he was injured in their previous match.
"That's a very good idea," Tae Hyun replied, "I will tell my wife to prepare some snacks for us."
"How about you Sung Min, are you interested?" Ginjoru asked.
"Umm... I'll think about it" Sung Min said with a nervous smile, Cheers from inside the field drew all of their attention back to the pitch.
"And the visitors have added one more to the score, making it seven nil with just five minutes left to play." The commentator's voice echoed through the speakers.
"What's there to think about, this game ended forty five minutes ago." Ginjoru replied, "It's the last game of the season, let's go and actually have some fun after this torture."
"Okay, haha...."
"Looks like the coach wants to bring in a new player at the final minutes of the game."
The assistant coach, Kim Nana, 20, black hair with a flawless face, whom is also the coach's daughter approached me and said, "the coach wants to put you in."
Sung Min's jaw dropped in shock, that was the first time he's heard those words all season. "Get ready." Nana added and then walked back to where the coach is.
Sung Min quickly wore his Jersey before the coach changes his mind. He then ran up to where the coach was standing.
The coach tapped him on the shoulder and said, "I just want you to go out there and have fun son."
The assistant referee put the changing board up. On it appeared the number 9 in a red font, the person wearing the number 9 Jersey, Shinji, he started to walk to where the ref was. Then the number on the ref's board switched to the number 31, the same number on Sung Min's Jersey.
Shinji shaked hands with Sung Min and then whispered the words, "good luck." Into his ears.
"Who's that? I've never seen him before." Someone from the fan section asked pointing at Sung Min.
"You don't know him? He is pretty popular among us that watch the games regularly."
"Wow, then why is the coach bringing him in now."
"Well, the last time he scored a goal was three years ago."
"What?!" The fan exclaimed in shock, "how's that possible, isn't he a striker?"
"Yes he is, he is the worst striker in South Korea... not just South Korea, in the whole world. I will pick my kid in kindergarten over him."
"There's no way he's that bad."
Takashi, the commentator's voice rang through the speakers "Lee Sung Min makes his first appearance of the season, let's see if the home team finally gets a goal through him."
The ball got to Sung Min 4 times before the final whistle was blown.
The first time he got the ball, it was from a long ground pass by their left winger, Yuji Nakamata, Sung Min timed his run so well that he beat the backline's offside trap, and by the time the ball got to his feet, he was already few miles ahead of the defenders. But before he got to the opposition's penalty box, the defenders caught up to him and wrestled the ball off his feet.
The second time was through a crossing, he positioned for a volley, but totally mis timed his leg swing, kicking his teamates head instead of the ball.
The third time, he got a pass but tripped on nothing and fell to ground, relinquishing possession back to the opposition.
At this point, he has become some sort of entertainment to the few fans in the pitch, each time he failed, laughter and boos filled the air.
He got the ball the fourth time, and everyone held their breaths, hoping to see another fail.
Got the ball in the penalty box, and he kicked the ball instantly aiming for the goal post. But the ball instead hit the opposition defenders hand.
The Referee's whistle rang like an alarm, and he pointed to the penalty spot.
"A penalty!! And it seems that will be the last kick of the game!!!" Takashi voice echoed.
The opposition players gathered around the referee to debate his decision because it seemed like the ball wasn't even headed for the goal post. While the home team huddled together to decide on who will take the penalty.
"Yuji, you are the penalty taker. You decide, I personally will like Sung Min to take it, he hasn't scored for a long time." Song Shi Woo, the captain said.
Yuji picked up the ball from the ground and handed it to Sung Min, "You won the penalty, go get us this consolation goal," He said with a smile.
"Looks like the striker Lee Sung Min is taking the penalty, seems like he is finally going to give the home team their goal." Takashi yelled out.
Sung Min dropped the ball on the penalty spot, he took a few steps back. It's just him and the goalie now. He ran to the ball and kicked it and it flew over the goal post to the empty seats behind.
"And he missed it!!!"
The referee's final whistle followed immediately, the match ended 0 - 9.
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