The Gaffer steps in the dressing room pumping as all up as he starts the team talk for the under 23s team ,first game for Pescara fc this season a hardy man quite young to be the assistant manager for the main team but one of the best he starts ," Lads play your heart out on the pitch today and i want nothing but the best out there." and then stares right at me my debut game for the under 23s the numerous injuries to our goalies gave me a chance to come out of the academy and play my first pro game. That stare was more of a sign for me screw up today and this might as well be the last of me here .
It is the big walk now out of the lockers in the tunnel standing with the No.13 on my back saying Guillermo might have been atleast a 100 things to think about and i could only feel my heart beating like its the end of the world. The teams walk out the formal handshakes are done, it is in between those sticks now 1 match ,1 dream it is make it or break it day .
The match starts the first 10 minutes we were getting dominated by AC milan as expected and even though a slender mistake of misjudging a cross by me ,was spared by the ball banging the crossbar. Too scared to go for it the captain steps in seeing the scared look in my eyes headbanging me holding my neck as if he would tear it off, telling me to get the hell up and show everyone what i can do.
Pumped up by his words, rolled in my head like a 90s movie roll do i play to play for the last time or i play for the love of the beautiful game stepping up to the challenge with a massive right hand against a hard curler from the right wing ,scimming the ball over the crossbar for a corner now things looked more in control .
It was 40 minutes in the first half, it was a corner no fumbles this time what the manager saw at those moments was a mature teenager who came out and caught the ball like a boss from over the head of two players. The first half was over the score was 0-0, the gaffer was less then happy with the attackimg players and i recieved a pat on the back which was like a relief you go this kid were the next words. The second half started another huge save from a 18 yards out the ball clafted straight into my mid rib.
And suddenly out of nowhere Pescara scored a goal on a counter attack first attack first shot, first shot on target and it skimmed pass the crossbar on its way in. Milan looked less pleased and started with there aggressive attacking play ,the defenders fumbeled a pass giving it straight to the striker who was one on one with Gullermo, the initial save was a good one from Guillermo but it was straight in the way of a retreating defender, for a more than pleased goalkeeper as they had just conceded an own goal and I conceded it the first pro match of my life, quite not the dream i was hoping it to be . The match ended 1-1 .MOTM was to be decided and it was Thiago the AC Milan forward and No.9 who had been absolute class the whole match, the main threat for Pescara FC . But it was a huge one point for Pescara against the title favorites AC Milan. The Gaffer came up hugged me i was not at all happy but still apllauded the home crowd, everyone who came to see me play ,my first the managers pat on the back was something that cant be forgotten and then came the three magic words from the gaffer himself ,"YOU ARE IN" mixed feelings honestly conceding an own goal and knowing that i was going to be playing the next match . Moving up in the world it was game on from that moment it was the beggining of something new for me the dream i lived as a youngblood of being the best goalkeeper in the world.
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The Man Between The Sticks
General Fictionthe story is about the life of a young goalkeeper (Guilermo Osasuna) a mexican immogrant in Italy who is often negelcted for his talent as he is a goalkeeper and plays in not the most fancy positions on the pitch .Read about his struggle from getti...
