Brilliant. Greg Pius
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maturity beyond his years, Simon baited the goal keeper, pretending to shape up for a right footed cross into the left corner of the net. At the last minute, Simon switched the ball to his left foot again and blasted the ball into the right corner of the net with a left footed cross. The goal keeper slumped defeatedly to his knees punching the ground with frustration while the stadium erupted with,
"YES!! YESSS!!"
"OH NO. NOT AGAIN."
"GO YOU GOOD THING."
"WHAT?? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM???"
"WE ARE THE BEST!!!"
Then became the chant of Simon's club's song. The rafters of the stadium rattled, while the opposing fans hung their heads in disbelief.
When the full time whistle blowed, Simon's team were the champions with a score of 2 goals to nil. As the teams left the field Graeme "Chook" Beatson, Simon's captain, pulled Simon to one side. After clapping Simon on the back with an open handed slap that would have felled an ox, Chook said quietly,
"Well done young fella. A most impressive turn of speed and goal kicking ability. I have seen some great starts to a career, but yours must be the best. Now keep a cool head on your shoulders. Lots of people will try to get into your ear trying to win you with compliments and the like. Remember who you are and where you came from. Remember that the best striker in the world can only score when his teammates give him the chance. Your teammates are chuffed that we won. Remember the We. This is not an I game."
Simon looked Chook in the eye and said,
"Thanks Chook. I know who I am and what I can do. I also know that I can't do it alone. WE won that match and WE will win many more."
Chapter 5
Over the next three months, Simon appeared in the starting line up for every game. He was the lead goal scorer in the top A League competition. Opposition teams were yet to show him the respect he deserved. Older players saw someone they thought to be too young and too slight of build to be a serious threat. Goalkeepers were not yet aware of his ability with both feet. Coaches based their strategy on controlling Simon's more experienced team mates.
Simon's more experienced teammates adjusted their game to accommodate Simon's unique abilities. They treated him as a "go to" player. The coach pulled Simon aside to warn him of his extra responsibilities. In a cautious tone he said,
"Simon you have become very important to this team. Because of your goal scoring abilities, your teammates are now relying on those boots of yours. I know it is a big responsibility for someone just starting out, but you must accept your fate. Just beware of getting singled out for special attention by opposition teams."
Still naive in the hidden ways of professional football, Simon asked in an innocent tone,
"Why would I deserve any special attention? There are plenty of more senior players in our team."
Not sure how to break Simon free of his ignorance without destroying his enjoyment of playing football at the elite level, his coach temporized. In a gentle tone he explained,
"Its true we have a lot of experienced players. But that is the problem. The opposition players know about those players. They know what they can do. This allows them to structure their pre-game plan to counter their talents. But you are a largely unknown talent. That may lead opposition defenders to play a bit rough."
Still not sure what he was being told, Simon asked his coach,
"But that is against the rules isn't it? Surely the referee will not allow any cheating."
Shaking his head at such ignorance of the realities of modern day competitive football, the coach tried another approach. He said in a hesitant tone,
"Simon, when you are standing near the opposition goal mouth do you notice how defenders try to get behind you?"
Nodding his head, Simon felt on safer ground and he admitted his curiosity about this repetitive behavior. In a open manner he said,
"Now you mention it, they always seem to want to get into my blind spot. I would have thought they would stand in front of me."
The coach felt he was getting somewhere and said in a eager tone,
"That would be too obvious. The referee would then watch them too closely. No they stand behind you, as you said trying to find your blind spot. We all have one. Once there they can get in real close. After that there are many illegal tactics they may get away with when the referee is not looking."
Simon rememberED something he had been told by a teammate on their own defense bench. He had spoken of such tactics. But Simon had assumed that he was just exaggerating. Now he asked his coach to elaborate,
"What sort of illegal tactics?"
Not sure if he should dent his young player's confidence too badly, the coach stuck to the less crippling tactics. He said in a matter-of-fact tone,
"The favorite is the raised boot pressed up against your Achilles tendons. If they get it right, you will accelerate away then collapse some distance from their position. Failing that, they will simply place their boot at an awkward angle behind your back leg. If you run in one direction they can trip you up but make it look accidental. Being close to you they can pretend to back into you by mistake simply by turning away from your position. A clever defender can find many ways to limit your freedom of action."
Simon reflected on these words, then realized that these tactics had all been used against him in recent matches. He was now concerned that these illegal actions could stop him from scoring goals. So he said in a worried tone,
"Coach, how am I going to counter such tactics?'
His coach had already thought of one way to help Simon. So he said in an encouraging tone,
"Look I will arrange for you to talk to one of the best strikers who every played for this club. He is a former international of high standing. I am sure he can help you come up with counter measures. Let me get back to you with time and place but in the meantime watch yourself out in the middle."
That night Simon went over with his father all he had been told by the coach. His father liked Simon to call him by his first name now he was an adult. So Simon said in a deeply respectful tone
"Tanun what can I do to protect myself from the dirty tactics of opposition defenders?"
In a considered tone Tanun replied
"It is of course shocking that defenders would cheat by using dirty tactics. You risk being accused of feigning injury if you go down too often during the game. Referees can be oblivious to the illegal tactics used by professional defenders. "
Simon showed how young he really was when he said in a shocked tone
"I only play for the love of the game. If someone is better than me than I just accept it and make do with my own skill level."
Simon's father said in a caring tone,
"Simon not everyone loves the game as much as you. Some are only playing for the money. These mercenaries will do anything to stop you from scoring. Tomorrow we go shopping for boots that will protect your Achilles tendons. It's more important that you don't get hurt"
Thankful he had such a caring parent, Simon knew that his father always listened to what Simon had to say then tried to help. So Simon was able to sleep soundly secure in the loving protection of his father.
The meeting between the "setting sun" striker Rodo and the "rising sun" striker Simon was all arranged sooner than Simon expected. Even sitting in the same room as this legendary player gave Simon nervous hiccups. The former star international footballer said in a warm tone,
"Look we strikers are always being targeted. Even when its at its worst, just remember that it is nothing personal. These defenders have a job to do that sometimes involves dirty tactics."
Simon was able to come out of his daze to ask a simple question. In a voice