Chapter 11 of 100
Chapter 11
9 min read2,131 words
Rongguang was very excited. After the match started, he kept running at the front, moving very actively, but it didn’t seem to be of much use.
Because he was just running around aimlessly—a rookie who had only been playing football for a little over a month, eager to show off in his first appearance, it was no surprise that he was running around aimlessly…
Later, he realized that this kind of running was useless, so he decided to stay in the front field and not return. When the red team was attacking, he would wave his arms in the blue team's penalty area and shout, "Pass the ball! Pass the ball to me! Pass it to me!"
He thought that since this place was closest to the goal, receiving the ball here would definitely be the most threatening, and he might even score with one kick.
But no one passed the ball to him.
Don’t think that everyone was ganging up to exclude him…
This time, it was really Rongguang’s own problem…
The blue team's goalkeeper couldn't stand Rongguang acting like an idiot, waving his hands and jumping around in front of him, asking for the ball—Rongguang's behavior made it impossible for him to concentrate on goalkeeping.
So he couldn't help but shout, "Idiot! You are offside! Who would pass the ball to you?!"
"Ha ha ha!" Someone couldn't help but laugh.
"Poor Clayber, being replaced by such an idiot…"
"Doesn't even know the basic rules, and he wants to play in the match? Is his brain full of shit?"
"Putting such an idiot in the first team will only make our youth team look bad, right?"
Even the head coach on the sidelines, Osvaldo, seemed to be unable to bear the sight, shaking his head.
He was really a beginner—someone who didn't even know the offside rule…
Mauro, who was standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch anymore. He walked to the sidelines and shouted, "Rong! Come over!!"
He couldn't let Rongguang continue like this, after all, Rongguang was signed by his decision, and if he made the team look bad, he would also be held responsible. He had to do something to change the situation.
Seeing Rongguang run off the field, the youth team players all breathed a sigh of relief. They thought this rookie's ridiculous performance was finally over, and the match could return to normal.
***
When Rongguang ran to the three coaches, his first question was, "Sir, what does offside mean?"
Mauro really wanted to strangle him—was he not already acting like a complete beginner?
But even so, he had to patiently explain to Rongguang, "Offside means that when your teammate passes you the ball, you are behind the last defender of the opposing team, that's offside... In short, you can't always stand in the opponent's penalty area, even though it's the closest to the goal."
Then he thought for a moment and felt that it wasn't good for Rongguang to always stay at the front as a beginner, so he said to Rongguang, "Here's what we'll do... Your position will be moved back. Don't stay at the front. You'll play as a winger, on the right flank."
For Rongguang's speed, the wing was indeed the best place to showcase his abilities.
But Rongguang was somewhat dissatisfied with the coach's arrangement: "But I'm a forward..."
Mauro thought to himself, "What forward? When Leko asked you what position you played, you didn't even know what positions there were on the field! You just want to be a forward because it's the most glamorous."
Actually, Rongguang wanted to be a forward just because he heard that forwards made the most money...
He didn't bother to argue with Rongguang, "Either listen to me and play as a winger, or you can come off."
This was a fatal blow to Rongguang.
He immediately said, "Actually, I can play as a winger too!"
Mauro rolled his eyes in his mind.
"Go on, when you have a chance, make a forward run. Think about what you're best at, and don't run around aimlessly. It's useless."
***
Seeing Rongguang run back onto the field, the youth team players were disappointed. They thought Rongguang had left, but it turned out he had gone to the sidelines to receive personal guidance from the assistant coach...
Who is this kid? How can he have such good luck!
Lucas also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Rongguang return to the field.
Rongguang completely ignored the hostile gazes of the others and thought about the last words of the assistant coach, Mauro.
"Think about what you're best at"...
What he was best at... wasn't it speed!
Speed...
Is he telling me to use my speed to dribble and sprint?
Rongguang imagined the scenario, and it was just as cool as scoring a goal.
He had practiced dribbling with the ball and relied on his speed to reach the opponent's goal, then scored with one kick!
Awesome!
So he knew what to do.
He would start from the back and break through, dribble past several players, and then shoot the ball into the goal!
This would surely be a perfect performance to shock the first team's head coach!
Rongguang had this plan, but the ball never came to his feet again.
Or rather, since he started playing, the ball had never come to his feet...
They weren't afraid that Rongguang would take their opportunities; they simply didn't believe he had the ability.
They just disliked Rongguang and didn't want to pass the ball to him.
Even Osvaldo on the sidelines noticed something was off, "Is he not getting along with his teammates?"
Rojas shook his head, "I don't know what's going on... But he and Lucas Sutton get along well."
The coaches naturally didn't know about the grudges and conflicts among the youth team players.
They couldn't imagine that Rongguang had offended almost everyone by setting Kaka as his goal...
***
Rongguang, of course, knew what the youth team teammates thought of him, but he preferred to believe that they were afraid of him, worried that passing the ball to him would take their opportunities.
Despite no one passing the ball to him, he didn't get discouraged.
Since he couldn't wait for his teammates to pass the ball, he would create his own opportunities!
Just then, the red team launched an attack, and a long pass was kicked from the back to the front, but the technique and accuracy were poor, and the ball flew directly behind the blue team's defense, heading towards the right corner flag.
Seeing this, the red team's forward in front waved his hand and didn't even bother to chase it.
He didn't even know if it was a long pass or a clearance...
Chasing such a ball was a waste of energy and effort.
Only an idiot would chase it...
Uh?
At that moment, he saw a red figure suddenly flash by on the wing.
What was that?
***
"Huh? Is this..." Osvaldo also noticed the situation on the right wing of the field,
And when Mauro saw this, his fists were already clenched without him realizing it—Yes! That's it, kid! Show them your extraordinary speed! Tell them why I signed you!
***
When Rongguang saw the ball flying towards the back of the blue team's defense, he realized this was his chance.
Just like he had envisioned while watching the game from the sidelines, he had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and it had finally come!
Rushing forward to receive the ball would allow him to break through directly!
Rongguang shot out like an arrow, sweeping along the right wing, sprinting forward along the touchline!
The distance seemed far, but Rongguang was confident he could catch up. He had absolute confidence in his speed!
***
"Is that Rong?!" The other youth team players also saw this.
Then someone laughed.
Seeing Rongguang so determinedly chasing a ball that was almost certain to go out of bounds, they thought he looked like a fool.
Running for nothing and not getting the ball, what was the point besides wasting energy?
He must have no other opportunities, so he's venting his frustration here?
Sure enough, a rookie idiot... If it were an experienced player, they wouldn't even think of chasing it, a waste of effort!
Only Lucas was shouting, "Go, Rong! Charge—"
The blue team's defenders initially saw the ball flying directly behind them and didn't plan to chase it, letting it go out of bounds.
So at first, no one noticed Rongguang.
When they saw Rongguang, he had already caught up to the last defender!
Any further, and he would be behind the defense!
Chinese kid!
The ball fell from the air, and the distance between the ball and Rongguang was rapidly closing!
"Defend—!!"
The blue team's goalkeeper, who had just been shouting that Rongguang was an idiot and didn't know offside, was now panicking and calling for help.
Only then did everyone realize—Rongguang might actually have a chance to get the ball?!
The blue team's defenders quickly turned to chase, some chasing Rongguang, some running towards the penalty area.
Under Rongguang's full-speed sprint, they looked very flustered.
At this moment, whether it was the red team or the blue team players, they all remembered how Rongguang had joined the team...
His stunning performance during the trial reappeared in their minds!
***
The ball landed, and Rongguang also reached the spot. He really caught up to the ball!
In front of his speed, anything was possible!
Rongguang looked back at the flying ball and slowed down.
Then he lifted his right leg.
Just like practicing receiving the ball from the air and making a powerful pass, Rongguang kept his eyes on the ball, moving his gaze with the ball, keeping his neck steady, and tensing his right ankle, turning his foot outward to increase the receiving area.
Next, as the ball touched his shoe, he cushioned it backward!
The ball was stopped steadily!
It landed about a meter in front of him, perfect!
Nearly two months of non-stop basic training, on the training ground, on the rooftop, in the park during morning exercises... the sweat that soaked through his clothes finally showed its value!
"Stopped it very well!" Osvaldo was pleasantly surprised. He really didn't expect Rongguang, who had only been playing for a little over a month, to handle a high ball from the back so beautifully. Such high balls are very difficult to control.
But was this due to his practice or just good luck?
***
After Rongguang stopped the ball, he was already at the edge of the penalty area, and the blue team's defenders were still far away. The ball was in front of him, should he continue dribbling or... shoot?
Rongguang looked up and saw the goal.
The moment he saw the goal, the idea of shooting grew and quickly dominated his mind.
At that moment, he had no other thoughts besides shooting!
Shoot!
Shoot—
He swung his right leg!
***
When everyone saw Rongguang swing his right leg and get into the shooting position, all eyes were on him.
They widened their eyes...
The youth team players suddenly felt a bit scared—was this kid really going to take their opportunities with this ball?
Lucas, on the other hand, was full of anticipation, ready to witness Rongguang's first goal!
The three coaches on the sidelines also stared intently at Rongguang, wondering what surprise he would bring them.
At that moment, Rongguang became the focus of the training ground!
Rongguang swung his right leg, using all his strength to kick the ball rolling in front of him!
Shoot!
***
The blue team's goalkeeper, who was blocking the near post, was half-kneeling in front of the goal, raising his arm. He maintained this posture as he watched Rongguang fall to the ground.
Just then, he missed the ball with his kick and fell in a very awkward position, bumping into the ball.
The ball he touched slowly rolled out of bounds...
Rongguang fell, and grass clippings flew up.
The training ground was silent.
When everyone saw this, their minds were still processing what had happened.
After a few seconds, a loud burst of laughter echoed across the field.
Almost all the youth team players were laughing heartily.
The laughter was so loud that even Lucas couldn't help but laugh without a care.
Only Mauro covered his face...
"This kid..." he sighed in his heart.
His performance of chasing the ball with his speed was perfect.
But that last shot was really a disaster...
But at that moment, he heard the first team's head coach, Osvaldo, say, "Really interesting!"
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