บท 34: The Owner Who Plays
The whistle blew, signaling the start of the match, but Ethan noticed something was off right away. His white team, comprised of youth players and substitutes, wasn't playing with real cohesion.
"This is going to be a lot of work," Ethan muttered.
The ball rarely came his way, and when it did, the passes were sloppy—hurried, off-target, almost like they were trying to avoid him.
Every time that happened, they would glance at him as if he was at fault. Theodore, who was outside, shook his head. "This is among the major problems at our club."
Football players nowadays believe they are entitled to a luxurious and glamorous lifestyle. High wages, special treatment on and off the field, endorsement, and others.
That was when they believed they were bigger than the club. During training, they did not give their best. They were thinking of living their lives outside, not on the field.
Other things that had been missing were determination and... respect. They could come and see as well as demand the owner anything. But they gave nothing in return.
Their performance during the match? More than awful.
"Let's see how you settle this, Ethan," muttered Theodore.
Meanwhile, at the pitch, aside from Eric, his teammates hesitated to involve him in the play, likely dismissing him as some rich kid with no business being on the field.
The few times they did pass to him, it felt more like an afterthought than an actual tactical decision.
The red team, composed of the main seasoned players, quickly seized the opportunity. Within minutes, they stole possession and began controlling the game.
They made every pass smooth and purposeful, creating space and making the white team chase the ball like headless chickens. The red team had chemistry. The white team barely held together, running after the ball with no real direction.
Ethan, watching it unfold, felt his patience wearing thin.
"Look at him," Marcus, the towering center-back of the red team, sneered as he received a pass. "He's just standing there, completely lost."
Another player chuckled in agreement. "Guess owning a football club doesn't teach you how to play football."
Despite the taunts, Ethan didn't let it distract him. He was entirely focused on the game. His teammates, however, were struggling.
They were frantically trying to counter the red team's moves but were always a step too late, unable to catch up. "Since I'm going to take over this club soon, I need to show them who the boss here is."
Just as he was getting settled, a sudden notification popped up, grabbing his attention. Before him, the mission panel materialized, ready for the next adventure.
=====
[Mission: Lead the Underdogs to Victory]
Objective: Lead the white team to victory against the red team by improving their tactics and cohesion, guiding them through the match, and defeating the red team.
Reward:
1. 1000 EXP
2. 10 Ascension Points
3. All attributes +10
=====
'What a generous reward,' Ethan smirked. 'The system knows exactly when to kick into action and fire me up.'
Theodore and Coach Harris looked puzzled.
"Why is he just standing on the field, staring into space?" Harris inquired, his tone laced with concern and confusion.
"Probably in shock," Theodore suggested, his voice hinting at empathy.
The red team dominated the game; their skillful passing made it obvious they were just playing around and barely taking the white team seriously.
Ethan, from the white team, couldn't stand it any longer. His voice broke through the noise, urgent and commanding. "Wake up!" he yelled.
"Focus!"
"Eric, push forward! You're sitting too deep."
Startled by Ethan's sharp command, Eric quickly glanced back. He then hurriedly moved further up the field, following Ethan's instructions.
Despite Eric's swift reaction, the rest of the team seemed out of sync, their movements uncertain.
Ethan's frustration peaked when Marcus, a red player, received another pass in midfield and flashed a taunting smile.
"Guess you're just here to watch, huh?" he jeered, fueling Ethan's growing irritation.
"You think so?" Ethan was buzzing with excitement, feeling an adrenaline rush like never before.
His sharp senses quickly decoded the game's rhythm, especially focusing on the red team's movements and defensive lapses. He could spot opportunities that were invisible to others.
It was his moment to shine.
His eyes were glued to Marcus, looking for the right opportunity to make his move. Suddenly, he noticed a brief moment when the ball was heading towards Marcus, but not quite securely.
That was all Ethan needed. "It's time."
With an explosive burst of speed, Ethan dashed forward. The ground seemed to blur under him as he moved with incredible agility.
Marcus, caught off guard and about to receive the ball, didn't see Ethan coming.
In a smooth motion, Ethan slid in and expertly snatched the ball right from Marcus's path.
"What the—!" Marcus barely had time to react as Ethan left him in the dust, accelerating past him with the ball.
Ethan didn't slow down. His body felt electric, more responsive than it had ever been. Every movement was precise, his footwork crisp as he maneuvered around another red team defender with a quick feint.
The murmurs from the sidelines grew louder as the spectators—players and coaches alike—watched Ethan take control of the game.
Coach Harris stood there, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in surprise. He turned to look at Theodore, sitting close by, looking intrigued.
"He's not just here to put on a show," Harris said, almost to himself.
Theodore nodded slowly, absorbing the words. "There's more to him than meets the eye," he agreed.
Meanwhile, on the field, deep in the half of the red team, Ethan glanced around, taking in the scene. He knew that football was a team sport.
Ethan could easily outpace the defenders, but this game was about something other than him showcasing his talents. He needed his teammates or his players to step up as well.
"Steve! Stay wide and pull their defense!" Ethan barked, pointing toward one of the youth players on the left flank.
The young player hesitated, then obeyed, stretching the red team's defensive line.
"Eric, make your run!" Ethan commanded.
Now confident and fired up by Ethan's energy, Eric sprinted forward, timing his movement perfectly to slip behind the red team's backline.
Ethan saw an opening in the defense and quickly kicked a well-placed through pass to Eric. His pass penetrated the defense elegantly. It skidded just above the grass.
Eric controlled the ball with one touch and blasted it toward the goal with his right foot. The red team's goalkeeper dove, but he was too late. The ball hit the back of the net with a satisfying thud.
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Even the seasoned players of the red team seemed momentarily frozen.
"Fantastic!" Eric couldn't help but shout, his fist punching the air as he jogged back towards Ethan. A broad smile lit up his face with pure excitement.
Ethan greeted him with a hearty clap on the back and an equally wide grin. "That's the spirit, Eric! Keep up those runs. We've got them on their toes now," he encouraged.
Feeling a surge of energy from this turn of events, the white team gathered around Ethan, their spirits lifted. The game was far from over, and they were all fired up, ready to show what they were truly capable of.
Ethan used this moment to exert his dominance on the team. "Let's play like a team. Listen to my orders, and we'll surely beat them."
He said, "I will give a chance to anyone who impressed me today. This includes new players, young players, and those who haven't started before."
Ethan's words motivated the team. They had been training hard, but some of the main players would threaten them if they felt their positions were at risk.
"Lucky break," Marcus muttered as they took their position for the restart, glaring at Ethan. "Let's see if you can do that again."
But Ethan had already taken control of the match. The ball flowed through him now, and every time he had it, he directed the play like a maestro conducting an orchestra.
His heightened intelligence and sense allowed him to read the game on a level far beyond what the other players could comprehend. Every move, every pass, was calculated and precise.
"Pull wide, Joe!" Ethan shouted again as the white team gained possession. Joe followed the instructions, stretching the red team's defense to the breaking point.
Ethan danced through the midfield, his footwork swift and sure as he navigated around the opposition. His body felt in tune with the game, his endurance seemingly boundless.
Although he had been away from the game for a while now, his heightened senses and intelligence more than made up for it.
"Eric, hold your position!" Ethan called out, spotting the young striker drifting slightly out of place.
Eric nodded, adjusting himself just as Ethan anticipated the next pass from the red team. With one swift movement, Ethan intercepted the ball again, sending it back up the field with a perfectly placed pass.
This time, the red team thought they were ready for him. But as Marcus charged towards Ethan with determination, Ethan simply sidestepped, making Marcus miss him completely and grasp at nothing but air.
"Damn it!" Marcus couldn't help but growl as he watched Ethan dart past him, leaving him and his teammates scrambling to catch up.
But Ethan was already steps ahead, mentally mapping the field and predicting where the openings would appear. With a smooth, practiced move, he sent a cross-field pass soaring towards Eric, who was perfectly positioned in the box, ready for the play.
Eric jumped, outleaping the red team's defenders. With a powerful header, he sent the ball crashing into the net again.
The white team was shouting loudly. They had managed to beat the main team and made a great play with Ethan leading.
The whistle blew, marking the end of the game.
Coach Harris went over to Theodore while the players cooled down. He shook his head in amazement. "I've seen owners take an interest in football before," he said, "but nothing like this."
Harris added, "The kid knows the game. I've never seen anyone command a team like that on their first go."
Theodore smirked, his eyes fixed on Ethan as he spoke with Eric and the other players. "Yeah. You're right. I didn't expect him to understand the game this well. He's not just a businessman—he's a real player."
Harris chuckled, watching as Ethan interacted with his new teammates. "If this is what he can do in a practice match, Ridge Rovers FC might just be in for a serious overhaul. With him as the owner, this club could go places."
Theodore glanced at the players, then back at Harris. "You're right. But if you want to win the league and gain promotion, maybe you should consider adding Ethan to the squad. None of us expected him to be this good."
Harris grinned, though there was a hint of truth behind the joke. "With the way he played today? I might just have to."
As the players gathered, shaking hands and sharing good words, Ethan stood at the center, feeling proud of what he had achieved.
This was more than just showing he could play football. He had gained the team's respect—not because of his money or status, but because of what he had done on the field.
He smiled as he looked at Theodore and Coach Harris. Their impressed faces showed what he already knew: with the right investment, Ridge Rovers FC could become a top club. And with Ethan leading the charge, that future felt more within reach than ever.
Edited: 20 December 2024
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