Our Coach – Chapter 11 – Nigerian Story, Football, Dapo, Sports Story, Read Free Stories Online, Free Web Novel, Fabling, Pam
A massive digital board loomed over the field, flashed bright letters:
SEMI-FINALS
- Unstoppable vs. Golden Stars
- Holy Players vs. Green Stars
In the commentator’s box, two voices cut through the stadium noise, adding a lively rhythm to the tension.
“And here it is, folks!” the first commentator announced. “The moment everyone’s been waiting for—the moment before the main moment! The players are in high spirits.”
“They’re not the only ones,” chimed in the second commentator, chuckling. “I’ve got bets riding on these two lineups!”
“Oh? And who’d you bet against?”
A sly laugh escaped. “Now, why would I reveal that? Something surprising might just happen.”
The whistle blew and the first match began. The air was electric. Cheers erupted from the stands as Unstoppable charged onto the field, their confidence apparent in every movement. But their opponents, the Golden Stars, were no less formidable.
It was an epic clash. The ball zipped across the field, each pass precise, each tackle fierce. The crowd’s roar swelled as Golden Star’s Rich Kid, claimed the spotlight.
“And Unstoppable has been stopped!” the first commentator shouted as Rich Kid sent the ball soaring into the net, cementing his team’s lead.
“Dapo versus David,” the second commentator mused. “Who’s the better striker?”
“It’s a tough call,” came the reply. “They’re both incredible, but David’s aim is exceptional.”
As if hearing the praise, Rich Kid smirked. Seconds later, he launched another flawless shot into the post.
“Looks like that comment went straight to his head!” the first commentator quipped.
“You think?” The second burst out laughing.
The Golden Stars surged ahead, their victory assured.
Next came the clash between Holy Players and Green Stars. Both teams knelt in prayer before the match. But as the whistle blew, all traces of reverence vanished. The Holy Players were outmatched from the first touch.
Dapo, Uche, Josh, and Max tore through their defence with ease, scoring goal after goal as if the opposing team wasn’t even there. Swift, the team’s legendary goalkeeper, deflected every attempt with the nonchalance of someone shooing away flies.
“Do you see what they’re doing?” the second commentator asked, his tone tinged with mischief.
“They’re trying to make the Holy Players sin,” the first replied, laughing.
“Watching this makes me wonder,” the second commentator continued, “how the Holy Players even made it to the semi-finals.”
“What’s the score again?”
“5 to 0. They already spelled ‘GREEN’ in the first half!”
As if on cue, Dapo delivered a final, spectacular goal. The whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half.
The match replayed on televisions across the city, every household buzzing with the name on everyone’s lips: Dapo.
In a brightly lit living room, Matilda sat glued to the screen, her friends crowded around her. The room erupted in cheers as Dapo’s final goal flashed on the screen.
“That’s my boyfriend!” she declared, her voice brimming with pride.
Her friends erupted in laughter and teasing, but Matilda didn’t care. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen, where Dapo’s triumphant smile seemed to promise even greater victories ahead.
The team sat scattered across long tables, their voices low, their movements slower than usual. Lunch was a solemn affair, the exhaustion of the semi-finals weighing heavily on them. Plates clinked softly as utensils scraped against them, the silence punctuated only by an occasional laugh or murmur.
Dapo sat at the far end of the table, absently stirring his rice, when Rich Kid sauntered over, his signature smirk firmly in place.
“I saw your match against the Holy Players,” Rich Kid drawled, sliding into the seat across from Dapo. “Anybody could’ve beaten them.”
Dapo looked up, his eyes steady. “And yet they made it to the semi-finals,” he replied evenly.
From beside him, Josh chuckled, his deep voice cutting through the tension. “Man, you just hating,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
Rich Kid grinned, leaning forward. “Hating? Nah. I’m just looking forward to mowing the field with your faces on Saturday.”
Max, seated a few chairs down, cocked his head. “Mowing? What’s mowing?”
Rich Kid blinked, momentarily thrown off. “It’s when you use a mowing machine to cut your lawn,” he explained with condescension.
Max burst into laughter, nearly choking on his drink. “He actually explained!”
The table erupted into laughter, the tension evaporating in an instant.
Rich Kid scowled, his pride clearly bruised. “Let’s see if you’re still laughing when you’re eating my dust.”
As the laughter died down, Josh leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You guys notice something about the food lately?” he asked, pointing at his plate.
Max nodded enthusiastically. “True, oh! Yesterday, my fish was so big, I thought I was eating a whale!”
“Same here,” Mike chimed in, his voice muffled by a mouthful of jollof rice.
The captain, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke up, his voice tinged with mock seriousness. “It couldn’t have been bigger than mine. My fish yesterday was practically a dinosaur.”
The table dissolved into another round of laughter as the players one-upped each other, each recounting increasingly exaggerated tales of the monstrous portions they’d been served lately.
Rich Kid, who had been watching the exchange in growing annoyance, slammed his fist on the table, rattling the plates. The table fell silent for a moment as everyone turned to him.
Without a word, he stood and stalked out of the hall.
As soon as he was out of the cafeteria, the table erupted in laughter.
“Did you see his face?” Josh howled, slapping the table.
“He looked like someone stole his lunch,” Max added, tears streaming down his face.
As the laughter subsided, Sean Swift, the team’s goalkeeper, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Have any of you noticed Coach hasn’t been on the field lately?” he asked, his voice cutting through the noise.
The captain shrugged. “He’s been watching from the stands with the NFF president.”
Dapo stirred uncomfortably in his seat, his mind flashing back to his recent conversation with Coach James. The man’s words echoed in his ears, carrying a weight that had stayed with him ever since.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the Abuja Stadium grounds as Dapo and his teammates strolled back to their hostels. Their minds already shifting to the next day’s training.
Dapo’s gaze wandered idly, scanning the parking lot ahead. That’s when he saw them—Daniella and Rich Kid. The pair walked side by side toward Rich Kid’s flashy car, the metallic paint catching the sunlight. Dapo’s stomach tightened as Daniella leaned against Rich Kid’s shoulder, her head tilting slightly toward him.
Her eyes flickered in Dapo’s direction, and for a brief second, their gazes locked. The corners of her mouth curled into a knowing smile, and she leaned in closer to Rich Kid.
“Dapo!”
The sudden voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Before he could react, a whirlwind named Matilda launched itself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.
“I missed you!” she exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and giddy.
Dapo stumbled back a step, his teammates frozen in shock, their faces painted with amusement and confusion. But no one was as stunned as Dapo himself.
“Matilda ?” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Her dark curls bounced as she released him just enough to look into his face. “You didn’t call me! You’re so mean! How could you just leave your girlfriend like that?”
“Girlfriend?” Max muttered under his breath, already grinning.
Matilda didn’t notice. She was too busy pulling a nylon bag from her purse. “Your mum is so excited for you! She asked me to give you this. She made it herself!”
She shoved the bag into his hands, her smile as bright as the sun overhead.
Dapo stood frozen, the bag dangling limply in his grip. His mind raced, his heart pounding louder than the teasing snickers he could already hear from his teammates.
Daniella had stopped walking. She stood a few feet away, her posture stiff, her eyes trained on the scene unfolding before her.
“Matilda,” Dapo started, his voice low, “we broke up.”
“When?” she snapped, her voice rising with indignation. “Because I’m not aware of it! Oh, so now that your dreams are coming true, you’re just going to throw me away like trash? We’ve been together since childhood, Dapo!”
Matilda’s voice cracked, and suddenly tears welled in her eyes. The snickers around them grew quieter, replaced by murmurs from passing onlookers.
“Matilda,” Dapo hissed, “stop crying. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Her tears turned into a full-blown wail. “Embarrassing? Oh, now I’m embarrassing? I’m your girlfriend, Dapo, and you are not going to treat me like crap!”
Dapo could feel the stares boring into him—Daniella’s, his teammates’, the random bystanders’. He sighed heavily. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his teammates close behind, eager for the entertainment to come.
Behind him, Matilda’s voice rose above the murmurs. “I will not be ignored!”
“Get lost!” Dapo shouted over his shoulder, muttering under his breath as he walked. “All girls are witches.”
Max’s laughter rang out. “Minus your mother, though.”
Dapo smirked, his mood already lifting. “Mothers are women, not girls.”
Josh, ever the instigator, clasped his hands together and mimicked Matilda’s tearful voice. “Oh, Dapo! I won’t use witchcraft on you! Please come back to me!”
The group burst into laughter, their steps lighter as they made their way back to the hostel, leaving the chaos behind.
Click for The Our Coach Page