The Greatest of All Time

Chapter 10 - The Crucial Day I

Twilight had just melted away. Gone was the open blue sky that had blessed the previous day. Above lay an unbroken layer of white and grey, brilliant where the sunshine broke through and dark where it didn't.

"It may rain in a few hours," Zachary intoned as he withdrew his gaze from the sky.

"What are you worried about?" Kasongo gave a slight smile and said, "We'll be done with the trials by then. The scouts will only stay here a few hours."

They were at the center of the pitch amongst the 26 other players that had passed the physical fitness test the previous day. It was already 8 AM. Every single player on the field had already donned their soccer attire. They were only waiting for the arrival of Coach Damata and his team to start the official soccer trials. Zachary wasn't bored since he was accompanied by his new friend.

"That makes sense," Zachary concurred as he took a look around the stadium. "Are you sure the scouts will be coming today?" He inquired, creasing his brows. There were no coaches or scouts to be seen anywhere on the field or in the stands. He was beginning to think he had misheard the actual date of the trials.

"Relax," Kasongo stated confidently. "They'll be here. I'm sure," he laughed.

"I forgot to ask," Zachary intoned, locking gazes with Kasongo. "Did you move out of the hotel yesterday?"

"Of course," Kasongo patted his chest. "I have already moved into the Rabi Hotel," he said, looking pleased with himself.

"What the f**k!?" Zachary's eyes widened. "What difference is there between the Rabi and Hollybum hotels?" He yelled, attracting a few gazes from the surrounding players.

"One is named Rabi, the other Hollybum," Kasongo replied seriously, counting on his fingers to emphasize his point.

"For Christ's sake," Zachary took a few steps towards the short guy. "How many four-star hotels are in Lubumbashi? Your father only has to check those that charge more than 100$ a night to find you. Can't you see that?"

"That is indeed true," Kasongo blanched. "I'll move to a different one after the matches conclude today," he assured.

"Forget it, man," Zachary sighed. "I'll help you select a hotel after the trials. I don't understand why I'm even helping you." He grumbled. He didn't want to see a talented player die prematurely.

"Thank you," Kasongo laughed. "From the moment I saw you, I knew that you were an honorable person. What can I do to repay you? Should I link you to my sister? She is cute." Kasongo whispered.

"If she is as short as you, don't bother," Zachary harrumphed.

He was about to continue his conversation with Kasongo when he heard a few players on the field yelling. "The coaches are here. The coaches are here..." They sounded like kindergarten kids that had just seen an ice cream truck.

Zachary ignored the excitement around him and turned towards the gate of the stadium. Coach Damata was leading a group of about 50 people towards the stands of the stadium.

He noticed that there were about twenty Caucasians in the crowd. They wore sunglasses and large hats to shield themselves from the non-existent sun. That was what he assumed. There was also an aged man and a young girl, not much older than himself, among them. The rest seemed to be fellow Congolese, possibly from the teams in the Linafoot National League. He could recognize a few from Lubumbashi Sport and Racing Club de Kinshasa. All the scouts he had been expecting were finally here. His mood lifted.

"I told you they would be here," Kasongo's voice sounded from behind him.

"Are they all from the ADTA?" Zachary asked. The African Development Talent Agency was the organization that usually sponsored students to the French and Belgian academies.