Capítulo 30: Photoshoot And Match Scrimmage

The next morning, Benjamin arrived early at the training complex for his announcement photoshoot.

This was the day that he was going to be officially announced to the fans and media. Obviously it would only be a photoshoot and selection of a jersey number instead of the usual unveiling of a hot signing.

With the new signings like, Markus Henriksen, Steven Berghuis and Victor Elm taking center stage and becoming the major talking point of the club fans, and the media, the marketing department decided on only photoshoot with no extra-juicy media coverage and hype.

The club's marketing department subtly welcomed everyone with a beautifully laid-out row of AZ Alkmaar's jersey in the studio.

The cameraman's cheerful, uplifting voice pierced the atmosphere, "All right, Benjamin." "The home kit should come first."

His fingertips brushed the smooth material, red shirt with white accents and the featured logo, AFAS Software' had a classic, clean look in the signature colors.

Benjamin lifted the red jersey and pulled it over his head. The cameraman nodded and motioned for him to stand close to the background.

"Start with a relaxed, natural pose."

With his feet planted and his arms crossed nonchalantly, Benjamin allowed his look to settle into a neutral one. He adjusted his body, looked off into the distance, then straight at the lens, and the camera snapped, catching every little alteration.

The poses were so instinctive and natural that anyone who walked in would mistake him for a professional model. And with the height and facial features of his, he really did look like one.

"All right," the cameraman said, tossing a ball across, "let's get a few shots with the ball."

With ease, Benjamin caught it and placed it at his feet. The directions were simple, "Shift to your left. Look at the ball below." And he followed as instructed, "Now back to the camera."

His initial nervousness subsided as the flash continued to go off. With every shot, It felt like he was getting closer to assuming this new character completely.

"Okay, let's move on to the away kit."

Benjamin went to the rack and put on the jersey with the white, and red and black detailing. He continued to strike a few poses, feeling more at ease as he followed each instruction, placing one hand on his hip and another down the jersey's side.

"The third and final kit. Blue and black.

Benjamin put on the third kit, the last change of shirts. He kept the ball close to his chest for a few final shots, his eyes fixed on the camera and he spotted a smile on his face.

With a last thumbs up, the cameraman indicated they were finished. "Okay, we're done."

Benjamin managed a tiny smile. After putting on his training gear, he looked at his watch and saw that it was about nine in the morning. It was time to start training.

Soon, he made his way to the field, where the others were warming up. Given that the league game versus Heracles Almelo is tomorrow, today's practice would be very important.

Gertjan Verbeek came just as he got to the pitch, his eyes scanning the team. He nodded briefly in approval and called everyone together. "All right, let's begin with the standard drills,"

For the passing and movement drills, the players divided into groups and took their respective positions. In order to move the ball back and forth and make clean, fast passes in confined spaces, Benjamin had to work with Adam and a few other younger players.

The workouts changed from passing to running and tactical positioning after an hour and then two. Benjamin's brow was dripping with sweat, yet he remained focused and paid attention to every step.

The team was putting in a lot of effort, with each member utilizing their own abilities. No one was willing to slip up and be tossed on the bench because of a moment of foolishness.

Soon, Gertjan Verbeek blew his whistle for a 30 minutes scrimmage, the first eleven against the rest.

With the blue bib already designating him as a member of the "others" team, Benjamin felt a rush of excitement as he approached his side.

He was aware that this scrimmage was intended to determine who was match-fit and ready to take on Heracles Almelo tomorrow, and that it was more than simply practice.

The game began when the whistle blew.

The scrimmage was only to access their readiness and sharpness for the next game.

The first eleven had most of the ball, pressuring their team in all directions. Within a few minutes, they had attempted shots on goal and even put a few at the back of the net.

Soon, the boys in blue bibs had their own moments, Benjamin began on the left flank and was locked in in a matter of seconds, following down a pass from the midfield.

Adam had taken his place in attacking midfield, and he moved in time with him. The two of them weaved past the defenders, searching for openings. With their opponents red bibs constantly blurring in Benjamin's peripheral vision, the first eleven team was nimble and pressed them whenever possible.

Adam made a fast pass that found Benjamin's feet, and he handled it deftly while sprinting ahead. His instincts as a winger led him as he cut inside, just avoiding a challenge from a defender, and the ball felt like an extension of himself.

However, he had to retreat and restart the play when a red team player closed in on him as he was ready to set up a cross.

The first eleven pressed hard, not wanting to be outplayed by the 'others'. The 'others' nevertheless, persisted.

Halfway through the scrimmage, Benjamin moved to the right flank and experimented with different angles, putting the defenders to the test. Keeping his eyes wide, he pushed forward, scanning the field for any opportunity.

Adam, on the other hand, was always in the middle, and even when things got tight, his positioning and vision created opportunities.

It was evident that the two newcomers worked well together. Benjamin's speed and agility on the wings complemented Adam's cool control and rapid distribution. Together, they exchanged passes and benefited from each other's movements.

However, the red team maintained their position in spite of their efforts. They had a swift assault and a strong, nearly impenetrable defense. The red bibs tightened their formation and closed off angles every time Adam or Benjamin led an attack.

Benjamin found himself in a brief opening near the finish of the skirmish. With the goal in sight, he ran down the left side after a quick one-two with Adam.

As he wound up, one of the first eleven defenders moved in, cutting off his angle and sending him wide. He pushed forward, ready to strike. He dismissed the frustration that surfaced because he knew he had earned it.

The red team's experience played a major part as evident when the final whistle blew, and they won. However, Benjamin nodded to Adam and their team members in recognition of their efforts as he left the field.

The coach clapped his hands, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Good work out there," he said, his eyes scanning over each of them, lingering briefly on Benjamin and Adam. "Everyone's match-fit, and that's what I expected to see. Tomorrow, I expect the same intensity against Heracles. We play hard, we play smart. Got it?

A chorus of affirmations echoed around him, and he continued after a slight pause, "Now I'll be calling out the names of the starting eleven for tomorrow's league game against Heracles Almelo."

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