Chapter 94: Back again
Amani filed into the academy’s team meeting room along with the others, heart still thumping from the excitement of reunion. The room was windowless and cozy, lined with chairs facing a pull-down screen.
Amani noticed immediately what was frozen on the screen: a paused image of last night’s Eredivisie match broadcast. Even in the slightly washed-out projector colors, he recognized the scene - himself, wearing the Utrecht senior kit, standing on the pitch at Galgenwaard. His stomach flipped at the sight.
Coach Pronk wasted no time. "Find a seat," he instructed, flicking the light switch off so the projector image glowed brighter. The teenagers shuffled into chairs, some still in their training tops and cleats.
Amani took a seat in the front row almost without thinking - it wasn’t assigned or anything, but he somehow felt this was aimed at him and he wanted nowhere to hide. Tijmen and Malik sat just behind him, and he could hear Malik humming the Champions League anthem under his breath teasingly until Tijmen elbowed him quiet.
Assistant Coach Mark set the laptop on a table and tapped a few keys. Pronk stood beside the screen, arms crossed over his chest. In the dim light, his face was calm but serious. "First off," he began, voice low and firm, "we want to congratulate Amani on his outstanding debut with the first team."
Immediately the room broke into applause and a couple of whoops. Amani felt a flush of pride - and embarrassment - as all his teammates clapped for him. He ducked his head, a small grin on his face. Pronk allowed the clapping for a couple of seconds before raising a hand for silence.
Amani lifted his eyes to see the coach looking directly at him. Pronk’s lips twitched in the tiniest smile. "You did us proud," he said. That simple sentence from the usually hard-to-please coach meant the world. Amani’s throat tightened and he managed a quiet, "Thank you, Coach."
Pronk nodded once, then addressed the group. "It’s not every day one of our academy boys steps up and plays a part in a big Eredivisie win. Enjoy this moment, all of you. It shows why we work so hard." He scanned the faces of the other boys, making sure they were listening. "It shows each of you that it’s possible. With enough work, you might get your chance too."
The room was silent now, every teenager was captivated. Amani could see the excitement in their eyes, imaginations fired by the thought that one of their own had walked the turf of the Galgenwaard in a real match.