The Re-search

Chapter 3

I stood in front of the KCCSC office my coach occupied and took deep breaths, convincing myself that I was making the right choice. In truth, I was terrified about my decision, wondering if I wasn't making matters worse for myself.

There was no easy way to justify sitting out a basketball season, especially when you played for the Kitalo Blazers. There were many people who would die for a spot on the team. The team itself had a handful of players but only a few ever actually made it to the court for a game. There was competition in and outside the team, if you were highly valued there, it made no sense to just leave.

There was also a problem I knew Coach would bite my head off over. Koffi considering quitting the team to join the NBA. As two of the most talented players the Blazers had, we'd probably be drawing the wrong kind of attention to the team by making such moves at the same time. People might think it's a bad team to play for, when in reality, it was the best for miles.

"But there's a good reason why I'm doing this." I mumbled under my breath. "If it all works out it will be so worth it."

I knocked and opened the door with this in mind, my eyes landing on Coach Limbi's unimpressed face. He hated being disturbed while he handled preseason admin work.

"What do you want, Kitembo?" he said in his African father voice. "There's no practice today."

"I know." I said, chuckling and sitting down. "Coach, do you ever talk properly?"

"No." he said, snapping his laptop shut. "What do you want?"

"I want a break." I said, no longer seeing a need to stall when the reaction would be the same whether I buttered him up or not.

"A break from what?" he asked, eyebrows raised. "You want to sit on the bench for a few of the games?"

"No." I said. "All of them. This season."

"What?" he yelled and slammed a fist on the table. "I've already lost Ngalula! Are you out of your mind?"

I sighed and launched into my reasons, Coach Limbi's scowl deepening as I stated my case, saving the ballsy request I had for him for the end of my revelation so that I could gain a bit of sympathy from him. "Coach, can you promise that my replacement will only be temporary? I'll keep myself in shape to play again. I'll put in extra work. I just need to know there's a chance for me to come back to the national team."

Coach sucked his teeth passionately before nodding and telling me he'd only do so if my replacement failed to score more points than I did in our last season. "Listen here, boy. If I find out months from now that your little plan didn't work and you did this for nothing, you can forget about your spot on my team."

I grinned like a child, my hand extended to shake his. "Thanks, Coach. I won't let you down."

He sucked his teeth again, slapping my hand away. "You already have. Will you at least do the Sports Now interview?"