A Child's Struggle

~14~

It had been an hectic month of training and preparation for the competition. The competition as briefed by the school authority was going to be a two week event. Through out the two weeks, different inter school games will be played among the different teams. There will be a football tournament among the twelve teams to get the final two teams that will play on the D-day of the event. Each team had really prepared pretty well. The start of the event was really anticipated by all especially the new intakes like Raphael that hadn't witnessed it before.

The past days have really been a busy one for everybody as the event commenced on Monday. It was Friday and the students were all getting ready for the competition for that day. Team A was playing with Team E, Team C with Team F and Team G with Team L. It was a lit day. Raphael was in Team H so he was not bothered at all that day. He has played very well in all his matches and his team had not lost any match. He just watched the matches of the three teams that played. He had played with some of them but for the ones he had not played with, he stayed to study their formation, defense strategy, skills and the rest. It was a fun week as the event continued every day. The pre-event was handled mainly by the school directors and did not really have any external visitor. At the end of the pre-event the next week Thursday the results were published. The two final teams were Team E and Team H. Friday was given to everyone to rest as Saturday was going to be the main event day. However, Raphael's team still had to practice because their team had reached finals.

The Decoration team had done a lit work in decorating the stadium. Everyone was doing something. Some students were setting instruments while some others were making sure the sound system was good. Some of the teachers were on the field making sure everything was well. From around 9am people of different calibers had started trooping in, parents and other visitors were also entering the venue. It was an awesome sight. At exactly 10am the event commenced with the opening prayer by the Chairman of the day. Also the national anthem and school anthem was sung before everyone tool their sit. Dignitaries were ushered to the high table and then the School Director gave his opening speech.

The students entertained the audience with different presentations like match past, football acrobatics, orchestra presentation and even academic presentations. After all other petty presentations it was time for the football match between the two teams. As the two teams marched out in their classic jerseys, there was loud cheering from the audience. Raphael knew his parents were already there. He had decided to make them know they didn't make the wrong choice by bringing him there. The other team he was playing with never lost any match during the pre-event so they had gained a lot of praises and hype from others but Raphael did not allow this discourage him because he knew his team could do it. After all it was only one match they lost in the pre-event.

After walking into the field, they stood horizontally and then took their anthem. After which, the other team shook hands with Raphael's team then everyone went to take their formation. Both teams used the 4-3-3 formation. The leaders from the both team went towards the linesman and the referee that were in the middle of the field. They both chose their side of their coin, and the side that faced up after the coin was tossed started. The whistle was blown and the march started. The match was a very tough one as both teams were strong. After the first half, Team E had scored one goal and it was through penalty shoot. The one Raphael's team scored was cancelled as it was off-side. Most times when they tried scoring, it would hit the bar or get caught by the goal keeper.

After the half time, the next 45minutes was a blast as Raphael and his team mates were in another dimension. In the first ten minutes, Chad scored a goal which equalized the two teams. For the next 20minutes it was a battle of securing their goal post. The two teams were not able to score each other. Raphael was beginning to get worried because he did not want the match to end at draw which will require penalty shoots. He began playing with all his might and by 5mins to the end of the match, he scored a shocking goal. The goal keeper from the opposing team, had played a goal kick to someone at the middle field but it was trapped by Raphael. He immediately gave a nice finege shot back into the post right from the middle field. It was so immediate that it shocked everyone, but the players and the audience. There was a loud uproar from the audience as people were shouting, cheering and clapping. Not long after the game came to an end. His Coach ran into the field and carried him on his shoulders. It was celebration time.

Awards of different kinds were given to people. Also, medals were given to all the football players from the teams that got 1st to 3rd. It was an awesome event truly. Music was blaring everywhere as people were going to collect their gifts. Raphael was so proud as he held his medal and was walking to meet his parents but he almost fell because of his shoe lace. He bent down to tie it properly when he heard some familiar voices.

"You were so good there guy"

"What! Collins, Favour..." He shouted their names as he hugged them. So this is the surprise mum said she has for me, he thought in his mind. "But like how did you guys know and..."

"Well your mum told hostel father that you are here when he called to ask for you and that's how we got to know you are in the football academy. Then as for coming here, well we took your mum's number from the class register without your teacher finding out. When we went home, I called her to ask if I could speak to you and after I introduced myself, she was happy to hear from me. She told me about this event and that's why you have not returned. I requested to come with her and she agreed.", Bright explained.

"And after getting invited, you invited another two", Raphael said referring to Collins and Favour.

"Actually three. We have a surprise for you. There is someone you have to meet after which we will go meet your parents" Favour said.

Back in school, Roland had become their good friend too. He had actually been a good boy but maybe the love for football affected him too. Favour had invited him, when she heard about the event from Bright. Thankfully his parents allowed him to go with them. He apologized to Raphael's parents but they told him it was nothing, after all it made them realize they were holding their son back from achieving his dreams.

"Everything happens for a reason", they had told him.

Collins had gone to call Roland and immediately Raphael saw him, he hugged him tightly. They kept apologizing to each other. Roland told him that at the end, the football competition they were fighting for was cancelled and did not hold again. Raphael urged Roland to talk to his parents about bringing him to the football academy.

Together, they all walked to meet Raphael's parents. His dad immediately carried him up and shouted, "That's my son."

"I'm proud of you son, winning medals on your first session. Before you graduate you would surely be so great." His mom said as she hugged and pecked him. Rachael was not able to attend because of work but at least he would see her at home.

"Remember I told you I'm your number one fan", Toluwani whispered to him.

"Yh baby", he whispered back.

His dad asked him to go get his bag because it was time to go home but instead they joined the dancing crowd on the field playing and taking pictures.

Awwwwn🥰🥰
We have really come to the end of this story 😊
Why did it have to finish na🥺
It's true that everything with a beginning must have an end✌️
Hope you enjoyed it so far🤭