Chapter 135: Future of The Team
In the elevator descending from the eighteenth floor, Fatuma waited until they were alone before speaking. "They’re not as strong as they want us to believe," she said quietly. "Did you notice how they tensed when you mentioned environmental assessments and community consultation?"
"Yes," Amani confirmed. "And the financing isn’t secure yet they need to show they have the land before the next round of investment."
"Exactly," Fatuma nodded approvingly. "They’re trying to project inevitable success, but there are significant hurdles they haven’t cleared. That gives us options."
As they exited the hotel into the bright Mombasa sunshine, Amani noticed a familiar figure waiting near their car. Coach Juma’s expression a mixture of concern and determination.
"I hope you don’t mind my coming," he said as they approached. "I wanted to hear directly how the meeting went."
"Not at all," Amani assured him. "In fact, I think we need to talk about Bamburi FC. I have some ideas I’d like to discuss."
The coach’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but he nodded. "My office?"
"Perfect," Amani agreed.
As they drove toward the football club’s modest headquarters, Amani’s mind was racing with possibilities.
The meeting had been intended to intimidate them, to make them feel small and powerless against the forces aligned against them.
Instead, it had revealed cracks in their opponents’ armor, opportunities that might be exploited with the right strategy.