So It Begins.
"Up you go, boys," said Lorenzo as he stood at the bus door. "The bus leaves in a few."
"Take my bag?" laughed Immanuel.
"Take my bag, blah blah blah," Lorenzo mimicked.
On a cold and dark Thursday night, the boys were heading to Hartford for their first match of the season. Those who had work had called off, while those who had school had to take the work they'd be missing with them. Even though they'd be there for only a two days, extra measures were taken for travel, especially for an amateur team such as themselves.
The ride in total would be around two hours and thirty minutes. Two buses were used as everyone boarded the coaches and fought over their seats like elementary school students. Ian, whose mother was tailing them, had been skeptical of allowing her son to go away for both the friendlies in Germany and now an away day in Hartford.
"We all good?" asked Fletcher, one of the physicians on the team. "I'll be up during the ride, so let me know if anything happens."
The bus was dark, so anyone who didn't speak up was invisible as far as the eye could see. Ian sat at the window seat, staring at the street lights and the passing pedestrians, watching two buses parked up with a few people standing out and speaking. His stomach was tightening as this was his first game with the team.
Chatter was low as the players spoke as if they were school kids, and the bus driver got angry with them. Ian's seatmate, Roberto, had sat down listening to noticeable Dominican music, as his love for Spanish music from many countries was very evident.
"Ian?" asked James, who was sitting behind him. He tapped his head to get his attention after saying his name three times.
"Zoned out?" asked Lorenzo, who was sitting next to James in the aisle seat.
"Nervous," he said as his teeth chattered. "It's also cold."
Just before James could say anything, the bus doors closed, and the soft, low hiss of the airbrakes could be heard faintly. The bus had jolted before rolling away from the curb and into the quiet, dark back roads before hitting the main streets. Down the road, it went as it passed through shops and apartments before continuing its route towards NYC. The bus ride became quiet as they continued their journey through the metro area.
The sky cleared up of any clouds showing the bright, waning crescent moon as they entered Connecticut. Ian had been sound asleep, along with most of the boys on the bus, due to the smooth ride and the low humming of the engine.
The lights of the hotel they were staying at gleamed through the windows as they pulled up in front of the two glass doors leading into the hotel. Some of the players were sleeping, whether it be with headphones on their ears or a mask for better relaxation.
*Tnk*
"Rise and shine!" screamed Fletcher. "Come on now, everyone off." He fitted his baseball cap, moving his long black hair out of his face.
Ian stretched, making a gnawing noise as he got up.
"That was a great nap," yawned Lorenzo. "But I'm still tired."
"What time is it?" asked Ian. He had stepped into the aisle, as Roberto, who was sitting next to him, had already gotten off the bus.
"I don't even know, man," sighed Klaus. "I'm all tired and such."
The boys funneled out of the bus, stretching their legs in a spatial atmosphere. The air was dense, as the cold air caused many of the boys to shiver. Holding the door for one another as they walked into a nice, open lobby. Not as glamorous during their time in Germany, but still amazing.
"What type of sponsor do we have, man?" asked Toyo as he looked around the lobby of the hotel.
Ian sat on the big, comfortable white couch, watching the team linger throughout the hotel lobby. It was as if they were kids wandering around a playground or an amusement park. The chandelier, which looked like a million bucks to Ian, waved ever so slightly due to the small gust of wind that came from the opened door.
After the equipment was brought in, so were the family members and a small number of fans who had made their way up to Hartford. Some went to other hotels, whereas the rest booked a nice room in the nice hotel that the team was in.
"Ahhh," said a feminine voice next to Ian. "How was the ride?"
The tall figure sitting right next to him had swayed left and right, looking straight at the center of the lobby. Darting her eyes from the nice artistic symbols on the floor to the variety of flags on the walls.
"Relaxing," he responded. "I'm just insanely tired right now."
"Well, that's to be expected," she responded. Ian's mother was looking directly at him. Smiling from ear to ear. "Isn't this what you dreamed of?"
"Honestly," he replied. "This is just the start."
His mother couldn't have been happier. Even with the toughest of battles she's facing, she's still happy that her son is fulfilling his dream. There was still more to be done, but she'll support him till the very end.
With the night coming to an end and everyone in their respected rooms, the boys either played games on their phones and laptops, slept, or chatted with others. Ian had a shared room with his mother as he sat at the end of his bed watching some videos he had of their opponent. The video's quality wasn't as good, but it helped.
Each of them was sent a video of Hartford's playing style and tactics. It highlighted their keeper, who was a solid shot stopper but terrible with his feet. In the defense, the two center backs aren't as tall, and the fullbacks aren't fast at all. The midfielders lack a strong understanding of marking and defensive judgment. Then there is the attack, whose stronghold is holding up the play, but even so, it is not as good as the many other teams in the league.
The screen brightened up the dark room, as his mother was still sound asleep. Goosebumps formed on his arm, but he wasn't getting his hopes up. Not everyone plays in a game; hell, not every player plays in months. But that doesn't mean he'll stop training.
He continued watching the film until he fell flat on his back. The laptop was still running as he closed his eyes, and was completely out like a light.
-
"On your feet!" Tati screamed.
-
"In and out!" he screamed again.
-
"No, no, no!" he shrieked. "You're doing it all wrong."
-
"Ian!" he shouted. "In the middle."
And that was that. Training had been completed. Ian had done it bit by bit. Forming into a well-used CM. From a defensive-only player to a defensive playmaker. But this was not the end of Ian's training for the day. The clouds appeared overhead as the wind blew. Unexpected flurries flew down as Ian stood in the middle of the field, watching Immanuel charge down the middle.
His footwork success was getting better by the day. His figure contributed to his pace on the ball. He's been working on his legs to gain more muscle, but it's barely showing. Instead, what has improved has been his pace and his dribbling. Immanuel was soon to become something great on the team. Whether he'd be fit to be a starter is to be decided via Tati. But in Ian's eyes, he's next up.
Immanuel flew by him as a gust of wind picked up, catching Ian off guard. He grabbed a hold of his shirt and caught up an inch. Poking his toe at the ball, he knocked it slightly off the path. Just enough to stutter Immanuel's focus.
The stomping also messed up his flow when he regained control of the ball. Ian had swung a leg out, snapping his right foot into the ball as he slid into Immanuel.
"Whoa!" he screamed. "Ugh!"
"Phew," Ian gasped. "I thought I cooked it."
"Cooked it?" Immanuel sat up. "You're so funny, man!"
The grass had been muddy all day, and the forecast for tomorrow continued with that issue. The two got up as they continued. Immanuel had regained his understanding and beat Ian off the ball more than once. Ian got the ball from a tackle and continued a counterattack. Without realizing it, Ian's footwork had also increased. His dribbling wasn't as good as that of the majority of the team, but his holdup was good enough.
The two trained for hours to perfect their ways. The game was tomorrow afternoon, and the forecast was said to be snowy or rainy, with winds to be expected. The first game of the season would be as cold as most games in the world.
Exhaustion was out of the picture. Even if they don't see the field tomorrow, they won't lose hope. The season is long, and the games come and go. The team qualified for the Open Cup, even after relegation. Friendlies, Open cup, and games where the starters need to rest. They'll need to step up. Falling behind, even at this level, is not acceptable.