Chapter 109: Unpredictable Twists
Ngonga had no inkling of the thoughts swirling in José's mind—or that his post-retirement future had already been mapped out. According to the plan, once he hangs up his boots, Ngonga would join the coaching staff immediately. His primary role would be to serve as a mediator in the dressing room and a specialist in training drills, all the while learning the ropes of becoming a head coach. In time, he would even be tasked with developing the next generation of midfield maestros.
At that moment, however, Ngonga's attention was focused on Mota. During training, Mota often sought Ngonga's advice, and he quickly absorbed everything his mentor taught him. This, alone, confirmed to Ngonga that Mota's natural talent far surpassed his own. Although Ngonga had built his abilities through years of hard work and match experience, Mota—still very young—already showed no signs of lagging behind.
Ngonga wasn't overly concerned about whether Mota's rise might cost him his starting spot. With his own drive mellowing as time went on, Ngonga felt content even if he were relegated to a substitute role for a couple of matches. After all, the starting spot belonged to both him and, ultimately, to Mota. Moreover, José had spoken candidly with him—explaining that in the coming matches he might sit on the bench more often, but as long as his fitness remained strong, he'd still be considered a first-team regular. A game here, a game there—a lighter schedule was a fair trade for a veteran like Ngonga.
Ngonga agreed. Why struggle on with diminishing returns when he could conserve his energy and excel when given fewer opportunities? So, for now, he simply observed Mota's performance, contemplating where the young midfielder could further improve.
After shaking off a challenge from Moreno, Mota continued advancing with the ball, though he didn't carry it very far. Before the opposition's midfield could press him, he distributed the ball. Although Mota was confident in his technique, he was also aware that, given his stature, he'd never be the kind of player to replicate Maradona's dazzling solo dribbles. His most potent weapon remained his passing and organizational skills.
The ball sailed down the left flank, where Capdevila—making a surging run—collected Mota's pass and quickly dribbled forward. Advancing to near the halfway line, he encountered Contră. Instead of engaging in a prolonged tussle, Capdevila used his left foot to deliver a crisp pass to Calagr in central areas, then continued his forward dash without missing a beat.
Calagr, without holding onto the ball, immediately threaded a pass to a waiting Ronaldinho upfront. Ronaldinho, displaying his renowned dribbling flair, didn't pause to control the ball; instead, he used his right foot's inside curve to push the ball toward the flank.
Capdevila, making an overlapping run from deeper positions, intercepted the ball and sparked a flurry of quick, intricate passing among Mallorca's left-sided attackers. In an instant, the trio combined in a seamless triangular passing sequence, carving open a lethal gap.
Receiving Ronaldinho's pass, Capdevila surged toward the touchline. Just before Contră could recover defensively, he lofted a pass into the penalty area with tremendous pace and accuracy. The ball, curving dramatically, initially appeared destined for the near post but then swung back to unsettle the opposing goalkeeper, who hesitated to challenge.