Brilliant. Greg Pius
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So he forgot his orders by saying in a awed full tone
"Yes sir coach..."
Then Rodo finished the conversation by repeating his previous order but this time with his tongue firmly in his cheek
"Don't call me coach. Now go have your dinner."
After Simon signed off he smiled. To have such a great footballer in his corner was doing his confidence the world of good.
Very early the next morning he was at the assigned location. Seeing Rodo talking with three other men he walked over calmly. They watched him coming towards them with expert eyes. When he got there the largest one said in gruff voice
"Not much meat on his bones. We Germans like our strikers to be much more beefy."
The tallest one joined in the running criticisms of Simon's physique. He said in a superior tone
"Not much height to him is there? Should be easy to contain in front of goal."
Finally the fox eyed one said in a cool tone
"When did you two ever stop Rodo when he wanted to score? If memory serves me correctly our great opponent was a skinny as this one when he played his in his first world cup. You both underrated him then so don't be so quick to do the same to his protege. Lets see what the boy can do."
Rodo nodded his acceptance of all that had been said. He spoke in a critical tone
"I accept that he is ..yes too skinny ...as I was at his age. He is also too short to be one of the great headers of our game. But Maron was right to warn you not to prejudge him. Already he is the leading goal scorer in one of the top league competitions in the world. But lets put him through his paces then we can talk again about weight and height."
Nodding all three companions took up their positions in front of the practice goal. One put on the goalkeepers gloves. The largest one covered the penalty spot. Maron hung near the far post. Then Rodo addressed Simon directly. In a measured tone he said
"I am going to kick the ball over from the near corner. My three old time adversaries will attempt to stop you from scoring off my kick. You must evade their traps then score the goal. Got the picture?"
Simon was in a daze. He saw three of the greatest players determined to stop him from scoring. It did not help much that Rodo was going to take a corner kick. When the ball landed at Simon's feet he would be all alone against two of the best defenders to ever play the game. Even if he should somehow beat them Simon still had to get past one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era. Gulping he replied as only a young man could
"Ready coach!"
Rodo said crossly
"Don't call me coach. Now watch for your opportunity to score. I don't want to have to keep kicking this ball all day."
Marching over to the near corner Rodo steadied himself for the kick. Simon got the sense of where the two defenders were standing. From the corner of his eye he picked up the position of the goalkeeper. Before he was ready the ball was in the air on its way to his feet. Simon used one of Rodo's tricks to avoid the mark he felt coming his way. He deliberately ran away from goal then pivoted before racing back to intercept the ball just as it landed in the penalty box. Using his left boot he slammed the ball into the net.
Three very surprised internationals stood looking at him with new respect. Rodo broke the silence by saying in a joking tone
"Chadda you always were a sucker for that ploy. As for you Maron I am surprised you fell for it seeing as how you planted me on my backside the last time I tried that little stunt. Borsnak you were beaten for pace admit it. Now you see why I say this boy has potential."
The other three nodded even if a tad reluctantly. Chadda said with a sneer
"Lets see him try that again. He wont get it so easy next time."
But Maron shook his head. He said in a frank tone
"Sure the boy was a bit lucky but did you see that turn of speed. Rodo he is as fast as you were when you started. The lack of size has given his feet the pace of an Olympian. Did you see the way he knew where each of us were positioned?"
Borsnak nodded before saying in a grudgingly respectful tone
"He beat me a little for pace but that is not so rare these days. No his great trick was to kick at such an oblique angle. That makes it harder to intercept his kicks."
Rodo quickly restored sanity by saying in a depreciating tone
"Don't get a big head over one goal. We now will do that again and again to see how lucky you can be with three professionals breathing down your neck. Positions everyone here we go again."
The adversary practice continued for exactly ninety minutes. By the end only Simon was not breathing heavily. Rodo nevertheless sent him in for a shower. He then sat down with his three friends to discuss what they saw in Simon's technique. Only some beers the analysis got very deep.
Maron kicked it off by saying in a sly tone
"I could find a way to keep him quiet but you have to give the boy credit where it is due. He is fast! Very fast and slippery. Take one eye off him and he is gone from under your guard. He is also sharp in the mental stakes. Did you see how he adjusted to our every defensive ploy?'"
The goalkeeper Borsnak nodded before adding in an appreciative tone
"Yes he is good. How good is hard to determine whilst he is so young. But he shoot with both feet with undiminished power. His timing is impeccable. But there is something else. That young man knows when a goal is on by instinct. He is a natural!"
The big man Chedda nodded reluctantly before saying in an overly blunt tone
"I could bottle him up given time. But he would be a big worry to most defenders. You never know what the bugger is going to try next. Some defenders will gets desperate and just put him out of the game."
Rodo nodded at this last statement. He said in a determined tone
"That is what worries me about Simon. He is too naive. Its up to me to make him fearful enough to be cautious. Thanks for coming all of you its been great to see even you Chedda."
Laughing as the four men recall times gone past they finish their beers then say their goodbyes.
Simon returns to tank Rodo who tells him that they will have another session before the next game. Then Simon goes off to the team recovery session.
Chapter 8
Simon was now a regular "A" league franchisee star. Sydney had not seen previously such a young player become so dominant. Opposition coached developed ulcers trying to develop strategies to prevent Simon from scoring. School children chanted his nickname, "Brilliant". Commentators took up the chant and called Simon, Brilliant Simon.
Most of Simon's teammates were behind him. As their winner streaked continued, they looked forward eagerly to playing in the finals. Everyone was smiling, his manager, his coach, his trainer, his fellow players, his club's fans and even the commentators. Everyone was smiling, everyone except Simon.
After a few big named stars had breakdowns, the leagues governing body dictated that each club employ a counsellor. Simon's club engaged an highly skilled female counsellor, Dr Mary Simons, to watch over their players. The counsellor could tell from Simon's body language that he was a "red flag" player. Dr Mary called Simon in to her office to have a one on one chat. She said in a concerned tone,
"Simon, I am worried about you. Everyone around you seems to be in high spirits, but you seem so glum. Is anything bothering you?"
Simon shrugged and said in an unconvincing tone,
"I am fine Doc."
Dr Mary persisted,
"Simon, I am here to help you and everything you say to me is highly confidential. What is said in this room, stays in this room. You are obviously not fine. Please let me help."