THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

The JFC Riga team didn't let up the pressure despite conceding a goal in the 15th minute. Instead, they intensified their attacks.

Kendrick Otterson, the NF academy goalkeeper, took note that the opponents had increased their pace and begun bearing down more frequently on the NF academy's box—towards his goal.

Despite that, not many attempts from the JFC Riga team players made it into his box. The five NF academy defenders ensured that none of the strikers, wingers, or attacking midfielders got a clear shot at the goal. They relentlessly obstructed the majority of incoming efforts.

Kendrick found himself in a situation where he only had to deal with shots with little power for the first 30 minutes.

The Riga team was still dictating play with possession of at least 75%, by his estimation. However, their gameplay lacked substance and execution. They failed to create that final ball that could seamlessly link their midfield to their attackers—leaving their two strikers isolated throughout most of the first half. The situation often forced their attacking midfielders and wingers to take shots from outside the eighteen-yard box—instead of passing the ball forward.

However, Kendrick didn't dare relax.

He was a goalkeeper—the one player that had to remain alert regardless of how the game was going. The ball could easily transition from the midfield to the box in a matter of seconds. A goalkeeper had to be fully prepared to make saves whenever anything unexpected occurred.

Kendrick was determined to do his best throughout the tournament. The addition of Zachary Bemba to the academy team had motivated him. His excellence inspired the rest of his teammates to do their best even when they were on the back foot. The NF academy players came to life whenever he got the ball.

They were pretty confident in Zachary. They were sure that he would score or make a good pass every time he was on the ball. All they had to do was defend adequately—and voila, they would win the game thanks to Zachary's creativity during counterattacks.

Kendrick forced himself out of his reverie. The Riga left wing-back had just unleashed a cross into his box. He took a quick glance around him and noticed that JFC Riga's two strikers were dashing into the box to attack the incoming ball.

For a moment, he was undecided on whether to run out and meet them or stay put between his goalposts. However, the decision was—quickly taken out of his hands. One of the strikers out-jumped Lars Togstad, NF academy's center-back, and planted a header towards the goal. The ball flew downwards, approaching the inside of the right post.

Kendrick didn't waste time thinking about how to handle the incoming ball. He let his instinct guide him.

He emptied his mind of everything else—except for that single trajectory that would soon turn into a goal for the Riga team if it was left unobstructed.

He took a small step in the direction the ball was heading, simultaneously keeping a close eye on the ball. Guided by pure reflex, he dived towards the incoming ball and made a comfortable save.

He scooped the ball up with ease and hugged it to his chest to keep it from rebounding back to the Riga strikers.

From his position on the ground, he noticed that Zachary was signaling him from the midfield. Kendrick jumped up suddenly—like a person bitten by soldier ants in his delicate parts. The coach had personally instructed him to release players as quickly as possible after repelling attacks. He could not afford to waste any time.

He immediately ran towards the edge of the box, past one of the two Riga strikers, and made a long one-handed throw to the midfield, where Zachary lay in wait.

The JFC Riga midfielders began running back towards their half, chasing after the ball. But the slight-laxity in concentration had sealed their fate. The ball traveled much faster than mortal legs.

Kendrick saw Zachary control the ball beautifully in the midfield. He expertly fetched it from mid-air to the ground and spun around, immediately bolting for the box.

Kendrick watched the boy prodigy leave player after player in the dust like he was walking through an obstacle course of stationary poles.

He didn't dribble with any flamboyance and fancy footwork—but with candid body feints that took him past his opponents as efficiently as possible. As soon as the players became confused by his feints, he would flash past them thanks to his incredible speed, giving them no chance to attempt tackles or intercept the ball.

Zachary soon expertly avoided the last defender and found himself one-on-one with Riga's goalkeeper. Kendrick began celebrating even before the African raised his foot to loop the ball over the goalkeeper who had left his line to greet him. There was little chance of Zachary failing to take advantage of a one-on-one with a keeper. That was why the coach favored him.

2:0. The NF academy had scored their second goal in the 36th minute. Zachary made scoring look easy.

However, Kendrick was aware that such a style-of-play required a combination of body control, game vision, risk analysis, and agility at a high-level. It wasn't easy to put up a display similar to Zachary's.

Kendrick had high hopes the NF academy would finally perform beyond expectations in the annual international cup. All he had to do was defend well, and everything would be okay.

"Come back and defend. Come back and defend." Kendrick shouted at his teammates since they were taking their time celebrating. He had always feared the moments after scoring a goal. The defenders would be excited and at their most vulnerable.

Robin Jatta, one of the NF academy center-backs, ran towards him, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He looked happy beyond measure. "I think we might be able to qualify for the quarter-finals," he said.

"Zachary is turning into a monster with every match. I wonder how he improved his skill by that much over such a short period!"

Kendrick flashed his teammate a half-smile. "I'm not that surprised. He trains almost 16 hours each day."

"Has he ever told you where he trained during his childhood? How did he develop such ball control?"

"Zachary never talks about his childhood. But I've heard he spent his early years in the Congo. But that's enough chit-chat, get back into position and defend." Kendrick said, pushing away the defender.

**** ****