Our Coach – Chapter 8 – Nigerian Story, Football, Dapo, Sports Story, Read Free Stories Online, Free Web Novel, Fabling, Pam
The dining hall buzzed with energy. Every table was crowded, packed with teams in matching kits, their laughter and chatter rising above the clinking of trays and utensils.
Dapo stood at the entrance, his food tray in hand, scanning the room for a place to sit. His gaze landed on an empty seat, and without hesitation, he headed toward it.
“Hey! Are you blind?” a voice snapped as soon as he set his tray down. “This is Golden Star’s table.”
Dapo looked up, and his eyes met those of a smug, familiar face—Rich Kid. Around him sat his entourage, a group of sycophants who hung on his every word.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, recognition sparking between them. Then Rich Kid smirked, leaning back in his chair as though savouring the moment.
“How was your night in jail?” he sneered.
Dapo stiffened but didn’t respond. He rose to his feet, prepared to leave without a fight.
“Yeah, keep walking!” Rich Kid taunted. “Or I’ll make your life miserable.”
Dapo’s jaw tightened as he walked away, his ears burning with embarrassment. Spotting his teammates seated at a table in the corner, he hesitated before approaching.
“Can I?” he asked quietly.
“Why not?” Max replied, gesturing to an empty seat.
Dapo slid into the chair and began eating with humility. But peace was short-lived.
Rich Kid, flanked by his lackeys, sauntered over to their table, his swagger exaggerated for effect.
“So this is your team,” Rich Kid said with condescension. “Green Stars. Now I remember you. You’re that kid who couldn’t pass the ball. Figures.”
Dapo ignored him, keeping his focus on his food.
“An idiot on the field and an idiot in real life,” Rich Kid continued, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby tables.
Laughter rippled from the Golden Star players, but then something unexpected happened.
“Joke? Yes, he’s a joke,” Captain said suddenly, his voice steady but cutting. “A joke that scored five goals in the first half.”
Rich Kid’s smirk faltered as murmurs of agreement rose from Dapo’s teammates.
Uche joined in, his tone mock-serious. “A joke that made us joke around and expose our biggest joke here—Sean Swift! I hear you guys aren’t afraid of him though.”
Captain nodded, his gaze fixed on Rich Kid. “We’re all jokes here, sure. But the biggest joke is you. Coming over to insult one of us? Get lost before you make a bigger joke of yourself.”
The tension was palpable, and for a moment, it seemed Rich Kid might retaliate. But he merely scoffed, muttered something about “idiots,” and stalked off, his posse trailing behind him like a pack of well-trained dogs.
As the atmosphere at the table lightened, Max turned to Dapo with a sly grin. “What did you do rich kid?”
Dapo hesitated, then smiled faintly. “You think he’s a rich kid too?”
Max snorted. “Self-absorbed rich kid with no talent or skill. His dad probably sponsors the team.”
Dapo’s smile widened. “I threw up on him yesterday.”
The table erupted into laughter.
“You what?” Mike asked, barely able to contain himself.
“I was drunk,” Dapo admitted. “He picked a fight. I tripped, and… it just came out.”
Uche wiped tears from his eyes. “Man, I wish I’d seen that!”
Max leaned closer, his grin mischievous. “So that’s why you were late for practice. Passed out in the gutter?”
“Not quite,” Dapo said, holding back a smile. “Spent the night entertaining some police officers.”
Mike’s jaw dropped. “You were in jail?”
“Brutal,” Dapo replied.
Captain chuckled, shaking his head. “Wait—you’re telling me he had you arrested for throwing up on him?”
“Rich kids,” Mike muttered. “Mean as hell.”
Uche turned to Swift, who had been unusually quiet throughout the exchange. “Hey, Swift, if I threw up on you, would you have me thrown in jail?”
Swift didn’t miss a beat. “I’d kill you.”
Laughter filled the air again as Swift stood abruptly, his expression unreadable.
“You people are annoying,” he muttered, walking away.
Max waved dismissively. “Don’t mind him. He’s watched so much anime he thinks he’s a character from one of them.”
Dapo frowned. “Anime?”
“Yeah, Japanese animation,” Max said with a grin. “Behind that mysterious aura, he’s a full-blown otaku. His role model’s from One Outs.”
“How do you know that?” Dapo asked, suspicious.
Mike leaned in and whispered, “They’re twins.”
“Dun, dun, dun!” Max exclaimed, his dramatic tone setting off another round of laughter.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Dapo allowed himself to laugh along with them.
The air in the team’s room was heavy with the lazy stillness of an evening off. Phones buzzed intermittently as the players sprawled across their beds, each lost in their own world of games, messages, and scrolling feeds.
Dapo lay motionless on his bed, his face impassive, though his legs screamed in protest. The muscle pull was merciless, each twinge a reminder of the day’s grueling practice. He clenched his teeth, unwilling to betray the agony coursing through him.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Swift. Quiet and aloof as always, Swift moved closer, extending a small tube in his hand.
“Here,” Swift said, his voice clipped but not unkind.
Dapo hesitated, glancing at the label. It was a muscle rub. Without a word, he accepted it and began massaging the cool gel into his legs. Relief spread slowly, and he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Swift didn’t linger, retreating back to his corner as if the interaction had never happened.
The reception area of Daniella’s hotel was a mix of understated elegance and the hum of midday activity. Dapo sat on a plush chair, half-watching a muted TV screen flickering with images of a football match. His attention, however, wasn’t on the game. He was waiting.
When she finally appeared, descending the grand staircase, Dapo almost forgot to breathe. Daniella was radiant, her effortless beauty catching the light in a way that made him subconsciously rise to his feet.
“Hi, um, good morning,” he stammered, his voice uneven.
Daniella raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Didn’t see you at practice today.”
Dapo shrugged. “Was given the day off.”
She stepped closer, tilting her head slightly as she sniffed the air around him.
“And you don’t smell like cigarettes,” she noted.
“I’m broke and all out,” he admitted with a sheepish grin.
“Good.” She grabbed his arm, her smile widening. “Now hurry up, let’s go. I want to hit the amusement park before life becomes too serious.”
Then she dragged him into a montage of fun.
Dapo’s laughter mingled with Daniella’s screams as the coaster surged and dipped, the wind whipping past them. The world blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors and motion, their shared exhilaration breaking through any lingering awkwardness.
Nest, Daniella balanced three sticks of bright pink candy floss, her grin mischievous as Dapo frowned at the sight.
“Isn’t that too much?” he asked, incredulous.
Without missing a beat, she shoved one in his face. “Not for you, it isn’t.”
Later, Their laughter echoed through the track as they zipped around in tiny cars, each turn a battle for supremacy. Daniella’s competitive streak surfaced, but Dapo wasn’t one to back down.
Then, Walking past the kiddie pool, Dapo misstepped, his foot catching on an uneven tile. He toppled in with an undignified splash. Daniella doubled over with laughter, her amusement so infectious that even the bystanders chuckled.
She reached out to help him, but before she could pull him out, he grabbed her wrist with a wicked grin and yanked her in. They surfaced together, both drenched and laughing uncontrollably, the moment stripping away any pretense of formality.
Finally, Dapo lingered by Daniella’s car, the energy of their amusement park adventure still humming between them. Inside the car, they sat in comfortable silence, both smiling.
“Thank you for accompanying me,” Daniella said.
“No,” Dapo replied, his smile widening. “Thank you for taking me with you.”
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, the world outside the car seemed to blur. Dapo leaned closer, the subtle scent of Daniella’s perfume mingling with the night air. He moved to kiss her, but Daniella pulled back slightly, her expression unreadable.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm.
Dapo recoiled instantly, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I thought—”
Daniella held up a hand, cutting him off with a rueful smile. “Dapo, I had a lovely time. Really, I did. But us—this—it’s never going to happen.”
“Never?”
“Never,” she repeated, her tone final but not unkind. “I can’t date a smoker. And besides…” She hesitated, her eyes searching his. “We’re friends. Let’s not ruin that.”
Dapo nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. “You’re right. Thank you again for today. I should get going.”
He opened the car door and stepped out, forcing himself to ignore the ache in his chest. As he glanced back toward Daniella’s car, his attention was drawn to a black jeep parked nearby. Inside, a broad-shouldered man sat watching them, his expression unreadable but staring at the man who had to be Daniella’s bodyguard, he understood what she meant.
Match day came again and the stadium was alive with electric energy, the stands packed with spectators buzzing with anticipation. The air carried the mingling scents of fried snacks and excitement, the traders lining the stadium’s outer edge ready for business.
On the field, the players warmed up, their movements precise and deliberate as they eyed their potential opponents. This wasn’t just another match; it was the third phase of the competition, and everything about the atmosphere—from the polished referees to the announcer’s booming voice—screamed importance.
A large board near the entrance displayed the lineup for the week:
WEDNESDAY:
Alpha Wolves vs. Wandering Wolves
Dominion vs. Trophy Mongers
THURSDAY:
Golden Stars vs. Razors
Green Stars vs. Never Last
FRIDAY:
Holy Players vs. Legion
Iron Rod vs. Zion Thunder
SATURDAY:
Heroes vs. War Machines
Unstoppable vs. The Retrievers
The commentator’s voice crackled to life, booming across the stadium speakers as spectators settled into their seats.
“For those of you who missed the elimination and second-chance phases of the competition, here’s a recap!”
The commentator’s voice carried excitement as highlights from the previous matches played on the large screens around the stadium.
“Opening the match was Alpha Wolves versus Zion Thunder, with the Wolves proving they can bite harder than they howl—final score, 2 to 1! Next, the Wandering Wolves crushed the Bulldozers with an emphatic 2 to 0 victory, reminding everyone that Wolves, alpha or not, shouldn’t be messed with. Dominion edged out Winners with a narrow 1 to 0 win, while Golden Stars dominated the War Machines in an exceptional 3 to 0 display.”
Cheers erupted from one section of the crowd, Golden Stars fans waving their flags enthusiastically.
“And then there was the Green Stars,” the commentator continued, his voice rising with drama. “Flogging Unstoppable with a shocking 5 to 0 victory—all five goals scored by a single player. And let’s not forget the stunt they pulled in the second half with their keeper, Sean Swift!”
The mention of Swift’s name drew thunderous applause and cheers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them play again!” the commentator added with a laugh.
The screen switched back to the present, focusing on the field where the Alpha Wolves and Wandering Wolves were lined up, their faces a mix of determination and nerves.
“And today,” the commentator exclaimed, “the two Wolf packs will face off in what promises to be a thrilling battle. And let’s not forget Dominion taking on the Trophy Mongers—two titans in their own right!”
The referee raised his whistle, the tension in the stadium reaching its peak.
A sharp blast rang out, cutting through the noise.
“And the battle begins!” the commentator shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd.