Chapter 5 Eyes on the prize

The black minibus halted to a stop outside the Brentford Development Training centre.Ethan Carter stepped out of the bus with his heartbeat drumming faster than normal and the soles of his boot crunching on the gravel ground.His eyes scanned the whole magnificent complex as he forged ahead.

Turf greener than anything he'd played on,floodlights standing like the sentienels even in the daylight,and dozens of young promising lads,lean and looking quite fit,already warming up in the crisp club issued kits.

This wasn't Glenmere scrappy asphalt yard or patchy grass behind Kingsford School.

Ethan adjusted his rucksack strap and walked in,reminding himself of what Coach Pedro told him during training the day before."it's not about the magic only.its about the moments.Make proper use of yours when the time comes".

Inside the changing room,the air was tight in nerves.Everyone was silent,hyper focused.Ethan sat on a bench,tried to tie his boots,and tried not to allow the tension swallow him.But as tried to maintain the tension imminent,he looked around the boys tying up the laces of their boots,flexing calves and standing like pros-in-waiting.The doubt crept into Ethan's mind.

"What if I am not good enough?"

His phone buzzed.its was a voice message from Kobi.

He plugged in his earphones to prevent unnecessary attention.

Yo,E!,I know you're might be a little tensed up right now,but listten.Youre're there cause that's where you should be in the first place.You've been playing on Glenmere pitch for quite a while. But today?,you gotta show those punks what Glenmere is made of.You've got this starboy".

Ethan grinned,even as the nerves pressed down like weights on his chests.

Out there on the training pitch,coaches barked out instructions.The sessions kicked off with high tempo randoms,then quick possession drills.The training level was something insane.one touch passing,rapid decision making.These boys weren't just good,they trained like pros.Ethan struggled to find his rhythm.His first touch too heavy,his pass intercepted,the keeper always reading his shots.he felt eyes were on him.A coach nearby jotted something down.Was that bad?,he'd said to himself.

He wiped sweat off his face,although the weather wasn't hot.

"Ethan!".one of the coaches yelled."Push harder".

"Keep your head in the game".

Ethan nodded,clenching his jaw.

Then,a familiar voice called him across the pitch.

"Well,well,if it's isn't golden boy".

Ethan turned."Wayne".

Decked in pristine red training gear,Wayne swagger hadn't dimmed one bit.They last time they'd seen each other was months ago,when he left London quietly after whispers about a scout offer from Spain.Now here he was smirking like he owned the entire place.

They didn't speak to each other much.They didn't have to.The silent rivalry paused like electricity between them.

The session moved into small sided games.Ethan placed on a team without Wayne,a relief.He was still shaky,misplacing passes.Some of his teammates became frustrated.Another coach appeared with a clickboard which meant more notes.

And then,something clicked.

Midway through the scrappy game.Ethan spotted a winger making an overlapping run.Everyone else was watching the striker.Ethan feinted a pass forward.then lofted diagonal behind the defence.perfectly timed,perfectly weighted.

Goal".

One of the coaches clapped one."That's more like it".

Moments later,Ethan intercepted a ball just inside his half,skipped past one player,and instead of taking an obvious shot,threaded a reverse ball into the ball of another attacker.Another goal.

"Good vision,Ethan!".another coach called.

Confidence started crawling back in.

Wayne noticed the recent improvements.From the opposite pitch,he shot Ethan a glare.Their teams rotated.Now,they were to play against each other.

No words still exchanged as the lined up against each other.But it was war.

Ethan pressed hard,tackled with purpose,and tracked each of Wayne movements.Wayne in return was just as sharp,fast feet,clinical turns.They each neutralised each other,and though neither scored,the coaches observed keenly.

When the final whistle blew,a few players clapped back or shook hands.Ethan walked alone to the sidelines,chest heaving,unsure how'd he performed.

A tall man in a black coat,with a Brentford crest embroidered on the chest,approached the lead coach.

They spoke in hushed tones.

Ethan squinted.Was that the scout coach Pedro mentioned?

His phone buzzed again.Another voice message from Kobi.

"Heard Wayne's present too.you better not let that donkey or his words bring you down.You're the baller,don't forget".

Ethan smiled faintly.

Minutes later,the lead coach called out."Ethan!",with me".

He followed the coach past the technical area and into the office section.The scout was there,arms crossed,eyes unreadable beyond dark shades.

"This is Ethan Carter",.the coach said.

The scout studied him for a moment,then nodded"interesting profile"."You've got the flaws,touch is raw,reaction time under pressure needs work.But your awareness?That second assist was clever.Very clever".

Ethan swallowed,unsure if that was a praise or polite dismissal.

"We're not offering anything yet".the scout continued speaking,"but we're still watching.Keep sharpening the edges".

Then,surprisingly,the scout turned."Ever seen the stadium?"

"Not at all". Ethan shook his head.

"Come on.Quick tour".

He introduced Ethan to two senior team players,young professionals on the verge of first team football.They shook his hand and gave words of encouragement.This was real.The life he imagined was really coming to reality.

They moved briskly through the corridors.Passed photo walls of former academy grads turned pros.

Into the players tunnels,and out onto the edge of the stadium pitch.

Empty stands loomed around them.Ethan stood still,soaking it in.This was where the dreams were bred.Grass that felt like velvet under his soles.Goalposts that looked ten feet taller in person.

"This could be your future".the scout said."But It won't be handed to you free.Earn it".

They exited the stadium,and the scout bidded farewell.

Ethan was quiet on the walk back to the lot.

Darius waited near the bus,arms crossed.

"Took your time",his brother grunted."How'd did it go?

Ethan shrugged."Don't know yet but something clicked".

They got on the bus.Darius didn't sit beside him,just leaned over from the opposite seat.

"You better not let the whole talk get into your head.Scouts talk big,but they vanish just so vast than you imagine".

Ethan frowned."You think I don't know that".

"I think you need to stop pretending like you're someone special and focus on the game".

The bus jolted forward.The quarrel brewed quickly.

"You never support me".Ethan snapped."All you do is to discourage me with those words of yours"

"I am the one getting up everyday at 6 a.m. I'm the one making sure you eat atleast two square meals daily.But you go on,keep on chasing clouds".

"You think this is a joke right?".

"No,I think you're not aware how this hard this been for me."

They glared at each other in the low light of the moving bus,the weight of ambition and sacrifice crushing between them.

Neither spoke again for the rest of the ride.

Outside the window,the stadium lights disappeared into the London dusks.

But in Ethan's mind,something imagined brighter than ever.

Ethan's phone buzzed.He pulled it out and saw a missed call from Coach Pedro.

He quickly dialed him back,and Pedro answered immediately as if he was expecting him to call back.

"Well?" Coach Pedro's voice came through,calm and steady."How did it go?"

Ethan smiled,feeling the weight of the day finally eased from his shoulders."I'll think it went well, coach.They said they'd be in touch."I impressed them,I think".

"That's what I like to hear".Pedro replied."I told you,you've got more than enough to be here.

Keep up the good work.And remember,this is one step in a long journey.Stay focused.You're on the right path".

"I will,Coach.I won't let you down".

"Good".Pedro said with a nod,even though Ethan couldn't see him."And don't forget,there's more hurdles ahead.You've got eyes on the prize,but you have to keep fighting.Keep your head in the game.And more scouts will come by.

Ethan nodded,feeling encouraged after the recent argument with Darius."Thanks coach for your kind encouragement".