Chapter 99

Rongguang, in the youth team's match, had been consistently attempting long shots. However, these were not the kind of long shots taken from a stationary position, but rather under constant pressure from the opponents.

This was the same scenario he had simulated during his solo practice sessions.

Using his speed to shake off opponents and create space, he would immediately and decisively take a shot.

After four attempts, Rongguang finally scored a goal with a long shot, breaking through the youth team's defense.

Fabiano, who was closest to him, went up to celebrate with a high-five.

Seeing the star of the first team getting along so well with Rongguang, the players of the youth team were completely convinced.

At the beginning, when Rongguang first joined the first team, many of them were quite resentful. Like Kleber, they believed that in every aspect, they were better than Rongguang. Why was it Rongguang who got to join the first team and not them?

This kid is just too lucky!

But luck won't take him far!

They were filled with jealousy.

Now, those feelings were gone.

Because they realized that they and Rongguang were from different worlds... just like they and Kaka were from different worlds.

They had seen Rongguang's efforts and performances with their own eyes.

On the field, they asked themselves, could they do what he did? They couldn't.

So, Rongguang had the right to be a starter in the first team.

Before the team even started training, he was already training alone.

During everyone's nap time, he was training on the field.

When everyone ended their training and excitedly headed to the colorful nightlife of São Paulo, Rongguang stayed behind to continue training.

The youth team's training ground was only separated from the first team's by a row of trees. Rongguang's extra training was not hidden; they all saw it.

They might be able to do it once or twice, but to persist every day, rain or shine... no one could do it except Rongguang.

Since they couldn't do it, they shouldn't be resentful of his success.

***

Seeing Rongguang and his teammates celebrating the goal briefly, Mauro said to Oswaldo, "Rong's progress is really fast. The long shot practice this week has already paid off."

Oswaldo nodded.

Although Rongguang took four long shots to score, long shots are inherently unpredictable and accidental. No one can guarantee a goal with every long shot, not even the best long-shot takers in the world.

What's important is the change and improvement Rongguang has shown in the process.

Oswaldo and Mauro both saw it.

In the previous match against São Caetano, Rongguang was clearly finding his rhythm and exploring.

In this match, his four shots were all taken with confidence. He wasn't just feeling out the long shots; he was aiming to score.

In just one week, he had mastered long shots to a high degree.

Such learning ability...

Oswaldo shook his head. He had been amazed by Rongguang's learning ability more than once, and now saying "it's really scary" doesn't sound fresh anymore.

"Three more days, continue to intensify his long shot training. For the next match, we'll give Fluminense a big surprise."

***

Rongguang was substituted out after only half a match.

But it wasn't because of poor performance.

Not just him, but Kaka, Fabiano, Baptista, and other first-team starters were also substituted out.

They needed rest.

The purpose of the friendly match was to help them find their match rhythm, not to push them to their limits.

Due to the World Cup, the Brazilian National Championship was postponed to mid-August, but the end date remained the same, in December.

From mid-August to mid-December, four months, they had to complete all 26 regular-season matches and three playoff rounds. The schedule was very tight.

Many matches were played twice a week, almost every three days.

With such a tight schedule, the players needed rest.

The purpose of maintaining and evaluating their condition had been achieved.

***

Before the match against Fluminense, Rongguang still made time for his training.

He couldn't stop his daily long shot practice on the training field.

He also persisted with his leg and core strength training in the gym every day.

Additionally, he continued his weighted stair climbing after training in the evening.

At night on the rooftop, Rongguang still kicked his sand-filled ball.

From the initial one-meter distance from the wall, Rongguang could now kick the ball from three meters away.

He indeed felt his leg and core strength improving.

In the long shots against the youth team, Rongguang felt it deeply.

The speed of his shots had also increased.

For the upcoming 11th round of the championship against Fluminense, Rongguang was already eager.

***

While Rongguang was training hard for the match against Fluminense, the media hype for the match had already begun.

In the first half of the Rio-São Paulo Championship, São Paulo had played an away match against Fluminense, resulting in a 0-5 defeat, a truly humiliating result.

That match led to the dismissal of Rongguang's first coach, Waldemar de Oliveira.

Now, with the two teams meeting again, the fans of Fluminense naturally couldn't resist talking about the match.

The media in Rio de Janeiro loudly led the readers to revisit the match, calling it a "classic confrontation" — for the people of Rio, a match where São Paulo was thoroughly beaten could indeed be called "classic."

The rivalry between the people of Rio and São Paulo in politics, economics, culture, and football is not surprising.

São Paulo is the economic center of Brazil, while Rio de Janeiro is the cultural and tourism center. São Paulo is a modern metropolis and the largest city in South America, while Rio de Janeiro calls itself the "City of God."

The rivalry in football is even more pronounced.

The now-defunct Rio-São Paulo Championship was born from this rivalry.

With strong teams in both Rio and São Paulo, every match between teams from the two states is a highly anticipated confrontation.

Especially when it comes to the internal battles of the 13 clubs.

Fluminense and São Paulo are both renowned giants in Brazil, and their matches always attract media attention.

The relaxed attitude of Fluminense fans and the media in Rio de Janeiro shows that they are confident in Fluminense's victory over São Paulo.

Their confidence comes from two aspects: one is Fluminense's recent performance, where they have won their last two matches.

The other is São Paulo's recent performance, where they have lost their last two matches.

Comparing the two, anyone can easily conclude that "São Paulo is in poor form" and "Fluminense is in excellent form."

An excellent Fluminense facing a poor-form São Paulo... is there any suspense in this match?

Compared to the optimism in Rio de Janeiro, the media in São Paulo is still arguing about Oswaldo's double playmaker tactic.

The "Scoreboard" published another article by Grayson, criticizing Oswaldo's imaginative tactics.

"…If we measure a player's performance by goals and assists, then in the last match against São Caetano, Rong's performance can be considered 'excellent.' However, at the same time, Kaka was in trouble. This is the truth of Oswaldo's tactics — one person does well, the other must do poorly. These two cannot coexist. If they must coexist, one of them will have to be sacrificed! Sacrifice Rong or sacrifice Kaka?"

At the press conference the day before the match, when the journalists discovered that Oswaldo had once again placed Rongguang and Kaka in the starting lineup, they all felt that Oswaldo was beyond redemption.

"Maybe he is thinking of old times and doesn't want to beat Fluminense, so he came up with this method. Who knows?" Grayson sarcastically said at the press conference.

Before coaching São Paulo, Oswaldo had coached Fluminense.

In a sense, he could be considered São Paulo's "enemy."

Because in the first half of the Rio-São Paulo Championship, the 0-5 away defeat of São Paulo by Fluminense was orchestrated by Oswaldo…

***

Kaka was chatting with his teammates in their room — he really didn't want to stay in his own room, as he was again paired with Rongguang. Since the away match against Internacional, he and Rongguang had been assigned to the same room before every match.

Kaka couldn't bear to live with Rongguang, but he wouldn't directly confront him. If he couldn't deal with it, he would avoid it.

But he couldn't stay in his teammates' rooms forever. Others need to rest too…

His constant presence was actually disturbing them.

So, he had to get up and leave.

Seeing Kaka's back, Ricardinho shook his head.

"Coach really thought of it, making them live together… isn't this just escalating the conflict?"

His roommate Lugano frowned and said.

Ricardinho sighed, "If they really get into a fight one day, I won't be surprised at all."

Kaka reluctantly returned to his room. When he pushed the door open, he didn't see Rongguang.

This surprised him.

Previously, every time he opened the door, Rongguang would be writing at his desk. He didn't care what Rongguang was writing, so he didn't know that Rongguang was actually writing letters.

Today, Rongguang wasn't there. Logically, this should have been what he wanted, as he could have the room to himself, but he was surprised and not used to this scene…

Where did that kid go?

Some players choose to relax themselves with entertainment before a match, like playing video games, praying, or… doing something that would make Kaka blush just thinking about it.

But from his experience of living with Rongguang, Kaka knew that Rongguang wasn't any of those types.

Before the match, he always wrote in the hotel room.

It made him wonder if Rongguang was writing a novel…

This time, he wasn't there.

Where could he have gone?

Kaka couldn't help but think.

But he quickly realized his problem — why should I care where he went?

He shook his head and started to take a shower.

The bathroom soon filled with the sound of running water and steam.

Kaka stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash over him.

In the water, he clenched his fists.

Tomorrow's match, I must show a convincing performance, and I absolutely cannot let that kid catch up to me again!

Kaka silently vowed in his heart.

***

While Kaka was enjoying a hot shower, relaxing his body and mind,

Rongguang was torturing his body.

He was carrying a soccer ball filled with sand and wearing sandbags on his feet, sweating profusely in the hotel stairwell, a place where no one would usually go.

In the empty stairwell, the heavy and dense footsteps and heavy breathing echoed.

Then the footsteps stopped, leaving only the heavy breathing.

Rongguang sat on the steps, leaning against the wall.

From head to toe, he was drenched in sweat.

He took off his shoes, and the sweat inside had pooled, enough to pour out.

After pouring out the sweat from both shoes, Rongguang put them back on.

He took a deep breath,