Trial Day.
"Thought the pitch would be bigger—it looked huge on TV."
"Yeah, even from the stands it seemed massive."
A woman approaches them.
"Okay, gentlemen, could you please follow me?"
They trail behind her as she leads them into another room, where five other boys are already waiting.
"You guys can take a seat here. The coach will be here shortly."
They sit down. The room is heavy with silence—some of the boys seem nervous, avoiding eye contact, while another casually scrolls through his phone. Across from them sits a boy, fidgeting anxiously with his hands.
"Hey, I remember you. You played for that school in green and white, right?"
"Yeah." The boy smiles nervously.
"That's crazy, man—you were really good."
The boy just nods and continues fiddling with his hands.
"So, did you end up talking to Amelie?"
"Why is it always about girls with you?"
"Maybe because I like them? And—did you?"
"Yeah, we've been talking for a while. She's cool. I kinda like her."
"Good man. See? You're becoming a real man now." He laughs, giving Che a playful slap on the back.
They wait for about 30 minutes before the coach walks in, holding a clipboard.
"Good afternoon, boys. I'm Nico Willig, head coach of the U19 team. You guys can call me Coach Willig. I'll be leading the evaluation for your trial, alongside my coaching staff. Now that introductions are out of the way, I'll read out your names—raise your hand when you hear yours. Got it?"
Everyone nods. He starts reading names off the clipboard. All five players are present.
"Alright, good. One last thing—Che Louw?"
"Yes, coach."
"Coach is fine—no need for 'sir'." He chuckles. "So, Che—I understand that unlike the rest of your trial partners, you're still 14. We'd actually like you to trial with the U15s or maybe U17s instead."
"Uh, Coach Willig. Can I say something?"
"Go ahead."
"I think I'm capable of playing for the U19s, despite my age and size."
"Oh, you do, huh?"
Che nods confidently. Willig smiles before letting out a laugh.
"Alright, if you say so. Follow me, then."
The players walk with him as he explains the trial process.
"I'm assuming you've all read your invitations. You'll be tested and scouted over the next five days. Depending on your results, the trial may be extended another week if we need further evaluation. Today's session is light—you're just warming up. No pressure yet. Understood?"
"Yes, coach!"
They head to the changing rooms and start putting on their kits.
"You're an idiot. You should've accepted the U15 deal."
"No way. Why didn't you take the U17 offer? You're 16—you could've gone for it."
"Because I turn 17 soon, dumbass. Plus, look at me—I'm a physical specimen while you're just a stick figure."
He shoves Che lightly, sending him tumbling like a feather. Leon bursts out laughing. The other players quietly focus on getting ready.
"That wouldn't have made a difference anyway."
"Whatever."
An assistant coach enters the room.
"Good afternoon. Follow me—we'll start your pre-trial preparations."
They begin with medical checks—everyone passes. After that, they go through other essential pre-trial routines:
Physical Preparation:
Fitness Training – Build endurance, sprint speed, and agility.
Strength & Core Work – Focus on leg power, stability, and injury prevention.
Flexibility & Mobility – Stretching routines to stay injury-free.
Technical Preparation:
Dribbling Practice – Close ball control in tight spaces.
Passing Accuracy – Short and long passes under pressure.
Shooting Drills – Improve finishing in different scenarios.
First-Touch & Ball Control – Receiving and controlling under pressure.
Tactical Awareness:
Positional Understanding – Study movements related to your role.
Decision Making – Improve reaction time under game situations.
Defensive vs. Offensive Play – Learn transitions and team shape.
Mental & Psychological Prep:
Confidence Building – Trust your abilities, stay composed.
Handling Pressure – Stay calm and focused during trials.
Game Awareness & Vision – Think ahead and anticipate plays.
By the end of the preparations, the players are more comfortable confidence slowly builds among them. They're sent out to stretch and jog two laps around the pitch.
While jogging, they spot the senior team training on the adjacent field, a crowd of spectators watching.
"Hey, look—Undav." Che points at him.
"I know."
"Wow. So now you're the serious one?"
"I just said I know Undav, dumbass."
Once the warmup is done, the players head to the main session.
Trial Session Breakdown Arrival & Warm-Up (30 Minutes)
Light Jogging & Dynamic Stretching – Prevent injuries and loosen muscles.
Short Passing Drills – Get comfortable with ball control.
Agility & Reaction Tests – Sprint exercises for sharpness.
Technical Skill Assessment (45 Minutes)
Dribbling Circuit – Navigate cones at high speed.
Passing & First-Touch Drill – Quick movements, accurate distribution.
Shooting Under Pressure – Finishing drills with defenders.
Tactical & Positional Play (45 Minutes)
Small-Sided Games – Decision-making, movement analysis.
Defensive Situations – Positioning, pressing drills.
Attacking Scenarios – Quick counterattacks, creating space.
Fitness & Endurance Tests (30 Minutes)
Sprint Races & Shuttle Runs – Speed test for explosiveness.
Strength Challenges – Squats, jumping power analysis.
Aerobic Test – Long-distance jogging or high-intensity runs.
After the session, the players feel good about their performance. The coaches seem pleased. Then, the U19 team joins them, and Coach Willig introduces the trialists.
"Since you've already done what they're about to do, you guys can head to the cafeteria for a 30-minute break. After that, we'll have an 11-vs-11 match for final evaluation."
"Yes, coach!"
The assistant coach leads them to the cafeteria, where they grab a light snack and sit together at a table.
"That was easier than I expected. I think I did pretty well." One of the boys comments.
"You think so?" Leon raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah. But I know the 11-a-side is gonna be tough."
The atmosphere is much calmer now. The players chat about their experiences so far, bonding over the trial process. Meanwhile, Che sits quietly, gazing out the window, deep in thought.
Once they finish eating, they head over to watch the U19 training session. As expected, it's way more intense than theirs—pure power and precision. The room quiets again, an unspoken tension filling the air as they observe.
"I think I'll make it." Leon grins.
"Exactly. What do you think we're here for?"
They exchange confident smiles, ready to prove themselves.