Chapter 15: Trial Match II
"Are you going back on the field, too?" Chrisy barked as Amani approached him. Both stood on the touchline amid a flurry of anxious energy. They had just finished a brief pause after a chaotic spell, and tension still hung thick in the humid air, almost palpable between them.
Amani’s eyes narrowed as he met Chrisy’s gaze. "What do you think, Chrisy? Why were you isolating me during the first half?" he demanded, his tone firm yet edged with genuine concern.
It wasn’t just about ego; it was about team chemistry. Every touch of the ball in the trial match was crucial, and Amani needed to know why his potential playmaking abilities were being sidelined.
For a split second, Chrisy looked taken aback, his expression flickering with surprise as if caught in a lie. "Eh, what do you mean?" he stammered, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"I’m serious," Amani pressed, stepping closer. "Why weren’t you passing to me? We’re not in a backyard scrimmage; we’re in a trial match. We have to work together if we’re going to impress the scouts." His voice carried the weight of two lifetimes of ambition, though Chrisy could never understand that depth.
Chrisy shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around as if seeking an escape route, and finally mumbled, "You weren’t creating any space to receive the ball." He took a few tentative steps back, glancing around nervously as if expecting the stern eyes of Coach Juma to fall upon them at any moment.
"Seriously? What about that time when I was on your left with no green players around?" Amani pointed out, his frustration evident. He had been creating space for himself to receive the ball, but Chrisy and his gang always opted for long balls that cost the red team possession, a strategy born of selfishness rather than sound tactics.
"Okay, okay. Stop bothering me." Chrisy gibbered, looking around anxiously to see if any of the coaches were watching them. He surrendered when he noticed that Coach Juma’s attention was indeed fixed on their interaction, his stern gaze impossible to miss.
"Look, I’ll pass to you when we’re back in," Chrisy muttered, his voice low and dismissive. "But don’t expect us to be best friends anytime soon. I hope this is the last time we play on the same team." The words carried a bitter edge, a reminder of the rivalries that often divided talented players.
Amani’s jaw tightened, but he quickly softened his tone, determined not to let internal strife derail their mission.
"Suit yourself. Just make sure you find me. We have less than twenty minutes to turn this match around." The clock was ticking, and with it, their chances to impress the scouts who held their futures in their hands.