2:30 pm

In South Africa somewhere in Johannesburg there's a boy,16 years of age, average height and the tale is about his journey in the world's game, football.

"My name is Thando Mabuya 16 years old and I'm GOING TO TRIALS"

he shouted.

Alongside him is a well-knowledged, ambitious and a A student. A friend to our little energetic protagonist, he goes by the name, kyle, half-british neatly dressed, black eyes like Thando and natural two tone hair, yellow top and black fades,

"WHO IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING TO", he angrily asked.

Thando nonchalantly laughing thinking about the fantasy of life as a soccer player. Kyle, who never understood the excitement of being an athlete, frowned as another boy approached, his hoodie hiding his eyes.

Thando finally stops his laughter and says,

"Leo, look whose going to trials tomorrow, this guy here"

Leo, a girlish-looking boy with a trim and ponytail hairstyle.

"You too? Looks like the three of us are going to try to make a name for ourselves" Leo happily replied.

Thando dumbfounded and glances at Kyle, Kyle looking back showing frustration knowing full well he'll have to explain to Thando that he's not the only one who's going to trials.

Not long Thando soon realizes that his friends are too going to try becoming footballers, while Kyle's explaining the details Leo out of nowhere takes out a ball starts juggling and doing "Around the world" (You feet around the ball while juggling).

Of all the three of them Leo is considered the better than the rest, Kyle being the fastest and Thando is the mysterious one, even for himself. A young man, an average player yet with astounding capabilities.

"Soccer is not really my choice in the matter, but my stepping stone to my real goal"Kyle clarified,

Thando in the other hand simply is fantasizes what team he'll play for, like Kaizer chiefs or Supersports. Thando has a tendency of thinking that he's humble yet in reality he is delusional and underestimates on how life works although in some cases he does have the rights to.

Leo sometimes likes to be smart with Kyle and annoys Kyle

"Well for teenager you tend to be soooo serious, with that attitude you'll never find a girlfriend"said Leo,

Kyle immediately replies"No one asked for YOUR opinion"

then said "life isn't just some romantic story",

Leo then passes the ball to Kyle and he also starts juggling the ball unlike ,Leo, Kyle likes keeping classy not because he's half british,but he instinctively dislikes showboating especially skills from countries which the likes of king of skills, Neymar, came from the poverty side of brazil and skills from Africa are the one Kyle hates the most, since there're completely unnecessary and time wasting.

Leo emphasizes,"soccer won't be as popular as it is now without us dribblers"

then Kyle clarifies "BY US you mean those footballers with their unnecessary dribbling skills, yeah not my style of play"

Leo is a boy who's passion is football just for the dribbling nothing else and that's furthermore reason his favourite player of all time is Neymar.

"Thando you agree with me right? " Leo asked, both Leo and Kyle glanced at Thando,

Thando in other hand was distracted by juggling with the ball while humming to himself, for a good 3 seconds Thando glance in confusion, "What"he asked "Nevermind" they both replied. This is the story of this three musketeers on the journey to become footballers.

Thando, Leo and Kyle the journey as began.

Thando alongside his two best friends were approached by an old man, but the three's response

"Coach! "

They're coach, a man in his mid 50s full honorific is coach Buhle. And says

"Hey ladies, get yourselves changed and gather up with the rest of the guys, especially you Thando and Leo" he said,

since both Thando and Leo always arrive late to matches especially Leo.

Sunday, 3:00 pm

In the football ground parents and friends on the stands, cheering as they see both teams are lining up.

Randburg FC in white kits against Youngboy celtic in the red, and the three musketeers represent Youngboy celtic.

They GK is Buhle Jogiat no. 1,DF Lesedi Sphesihle no. 3, Oupa evan no. 4,Lesego Siyabonga no. 6 and Siyanda Vilakasi no. 2.In the midfield is Innocent Dube no. 11, George Zulu no. 6 and Leo Silva no. 9,the final three in the attacking side is Kyle King no. 7,Eric Shabulile no. 12 and the main man Thando Mabuya no. 10

as two captains Kyle and Gordon frost in both teams shake hands, a youngster by the name of Jordan frost presenting Randburg FC no. 8 takes the ball to the centre.

Kickoff

Parents and friends cheering for the players on the field as Randburg players in possession with ball Youngboys Celtic putting pressure towards the players,Kyle instructing players to mark they man.

10 minutes into the game

Thando sending his dreams aside and focuses on the current situation. 3 minutes into the game Oupa evan no. 4 wins the ball back and with a long pass sends it to Thando. With a lovely first touch, Thando's and Kyle's eyes meet, what Kyle saw he knew what to do at that exact moment, he sprints to the right wing area as Thando sends the ball high to kyle, kyle without a glance receives the in the air like he subconsciously knew where the ball was going to land.

Kyle is gifted with his fast pace on the pitch, so fast that he ran past the defender like he was just standing. Kyle showing no signs of stopping he quickly crosses the ball, instinctively the opposing side sent a number of players to the box to make clearance, but little did they know Kyle never intended to send the ball in the box rather the curve trajectory sends the ball outside the box

and since the Youngboy celtic are using 4-3-3 False 9 formation which could only mean Kyle was only aiming Leo ever since he got the ball knowing how Kyle is Leo didn't need to call out for the ball since it was already set up for him in the beginning.

As Leo jumps to take a shot midair 18 yards from the box,BAAM, he shoots without the goalkeeper making his move and scores the first goal 1-0.

"Yeaahhhh!!!"Leo shouts out of excitement running to the left corner to do a knee slide celebration, teammates including Thando run after him.

Leo doing his slide teammates pile on him while Kyle anxiously watches his teammates celebrate, he then steals a glance at a certain player in the opposing side.

A no. 10 for Randburg FC 5,8ft 16 year old with jumbo dreadlocks staring at the sky, what standsout to Kyle is that the teenager looks uninterested in participating in the match with his dull eyes glazing at the sky like he is being one with the clouds while chewing his bubble gum

*POP* chew chew *POP*

Kyle listening in to his rhythm of chewing his gum while the kid walks passed Kyle. Kyle strangely has a tendency of thinking out loud mumbling and saying things like

"What's with this guy and who is he? "And it clicked,

Kyle recalls the no. 10 introducing himself during the captain handshake "Gordon" he said.

He glanced back at him and they eyes meet. Both players stare at each other a good 30 seconds and goes back to his rhythm of chewing and blowing his gum. To others it looked like two captains interacting,

but in truth Kyle just received a warning from Gordon's death stare.

To be continued