Chapter 3: System Initialization
The morning sun cast long shadows across the cramped bedsit as Amani sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the translucent interface that hovered in his vision like a digital ghost.
The Football Manager System, if that’s truly what it was, remained stubbornly present, no matter how many times he blinked or rubbed his eyes.
The menus pulsed gently, waiting for his interaction, as real as the Nokia phone on his desk or the faded Rovers scarf hanging from a hook on the door.
He’d spent the better part of an hour testing his sanity. Pinching himself, splashing cold water on his face, and even attempting to convince himself this was all an elaborate dream. But the evidence was overwhelming: he was 24 again, it was August 2010, and somehow he possessed both his future memories and this impossible system.
Taking a deep breath, Amani focused on the ’Club Info’ menu. It expanded smoothly, revealing details that made his heart sink with familiar disappointment:
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Bristol Rovers F.C.
League: League One (3rd Tier)
Current Position: 18th (after 3 matches)
Manager: Paul Trollope
Chairman: Nick Higgs