Must Read: The Player

6 years ago

Must Read: The Player

If I thought I had the upper hand in the game, I was getting disappointed by the minute. Tony’s boys seemed to be well organized, their passes were more accurate, and Williams, their top striker was a wonderful dribbler with the ball.

My boys were just running all over the park.

I didn’t want to consider it, but Tope’s stupid speech must have had an effect.

It was Five minutes to the end of the first half when William got his way through the back man and was just a shot from beating the keeper ( in Monkey post, using hands was an offence) my heart was in my stomach as he struck.

The force of the strike was much for such skinny legs, luckily the ball struck the cross bar of the post and bounced away harmlessly. My keeper was already sprawled on the floor, even before the ball was struck.

“ O’boy,my own don finish,” Ugo said, his head was between his knees.

He said he was done watching the game, I felt bad for him, I was pondering our next option when I heard Tope yell.

“Goal! Goal! Goal!”

I had to look carefully to make sure Tope was rooting for the right time. I was surprised to see that my team had actually scored. I didn’t know how they did it, I didn’t care. I expected Ugo’s spirit to be lifted but he remained skeptical.

At half time, scores was 1-0, advantage us.

Tope was about to give the boys another speech when I convinced him to get sachet water for them instead. Tony looked apprehensive; I could see him shout at his boys. I told the boys to play a defensive game in the other half.

The game resumed in the same pattern of the first half, except that my boys remained mainly in their half. My boys played with a lone striker, and I was impressed by their discipline. Even Ugo was watching the match and smiling again.

It was fun as I watched Tony fret, he was getting very uncomfortable. Then Williams did his magic. He collected a pass from his own half and was with three of my players to beat. He was a dribbler and they were expecting him to start so they can close him down. Instead he skillfully lobbed the ball over their head, the semi obese boy that served as the keeper jumped after the ball had passed him. He landed just as the ball settled into the waiting arms of the net.

Tony became ecstatic, jumping and shouting, Ugo became said again, Tope’s disposition was unreadable.

We had 8 minutes more, I still had hope that my big for nothing boys will surprise me. That hope became dashed when Williams almost dribbled all my boys to score another goal. After that it became an onslaught.

The walk away from the car park was depressing, apart from the fact that the 500 Naira we took there was gone, Tony laughed at our faces.

Ugo was trying to keep a brave face but I knew he was dying inside, Tope kept shaking his head.

It was 5 minutes past s6pm when we returned to Ugo’s house. Ogechi was in the kitchen, washing dishes.

She winked at me when she came to greet her brother, careful to make sure that I was the only person that saw it. Ogechi was a very beautiful 15yr old girl. She was light skinned with long limbs. This didn’t affect her bumbum from shooting out or her breasts from being bounteous. Sometimes I really wanted every soul in the zone to know that she was my baby, but Ugo was a hindrance. More than once, she had insisted I informed her brother, but I convinced her that the time wasn’t right.

“Why are you looking gloomy?” she asked her brother.

Before we could stop him, Tope told her everything, even the football game that crowned our misery. Accepting our faith, I bade Ugo goodnight. Tope and I were strolling to my apartment when I heard my name being called.

It was Ogeche. I told him to go home, that we would see in school tomorrow, then I walked up to her.

We walked with some distance apart until we got to a secluded area between 2 blocks of 16 flats.

“You promised to come and see me in my class today, you didn’t,” she said pulling me closer to her.

“I’m sorry, something came up in school, I miss you.”

My hand cupped the cheeks of her round backside; she leaned closer and kissed my lips.

“I have 1000 Naira, I have been saving it for a while, you can use it for the chicken,” she said, using her left hand to place in the money into my b0s0m-pocket.

I was so happy, I lifted her up her feet, she giggled like the princes she was.

“Now quickly go to the market, its 6:30pm!” she said, freeing herself from my grasp.

“Thank you very much; you are the best, Oge!”

“Stop thanking me, you know I love you,” she said.

Every time she said those words, she expected an obvious reply. But I couldn’t tell her that I did, those words were scary.

My dad loved my mum, she left him…he killed himself.

“I will come to your class tomorrow, I promise,” I said, instead.

If she was mad, she didn’t show it, instead she pushed me to hurry and make it to the market.

I ran with all the speed my legs could muster.