Football Life Episode 4: The Grind Begins

Football Life

Episode 4: The Grind Begins

The morning sun peeked through Remi’s window, but he was already awake. His body ached from last night’s training, but he didn’t care. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection.

"No more excuses. No more embarrassment."

After a quick shower, he threw on his school uniform and rushed to breakfast. His mom, Amaka Iloh, eyed him suspiciously.

"Why are you in a hurry?" she asked.

"Gotta get to school early," Remi replied, grabbing a piece of bread.

His dad, Philip Iloh, glanced up from his newspaper. "You training again today?"

Remi nodded. "Every day."

His parents said nothing, but he could tell they were watching him closely.

The School Challenge

At school, Remi was determined to prove himself. The memory of Jannessa’s insult still burned in his mind. He walked into the cafeteria, spotting Tosie sitting with her friends. He took a deep breath and walked over.

"Hey, Tosie," he said.

She smiled. "Hey, Remi. How’s training?"

"I’m getting better," he said confidently. "Watch me today at lunch. I’ll show you."

Tosie grinned. "Alright, let’s see what you got."

Nearby, David, Ibrahim, Chuka, and Kelvin overheard the conversation. David smirked.

"You? Show us something?" he teased. "Alright then, let’s make it a challenge. If you can score a goal against me, we’ll take you seriously."

Laughter followed, but Remi didn’t back down.

"Bet," he said.

The Match

At lunchtime, a crowd gathered around the school field. The teams were set, and David, the star goalkeeper, stood confidently in goal. Remi’s team got the ball, and the game was on.

The moment he got possession, the pressure was on. Ibrahim rushed toward him, trying to steal the ball. Remi used a quick body feint and slipped past him.

The crowd gasped. Even Tosie looked impressed.

Next was Chuka, the best dribbler in school. Remi pushed the ball forward, faking left before cutting right. Chuka hesitated for a second—just enough time for Remi to sprint past him.

Now, it was just him and David.

"Come on, big man," David taunted. "Let’s see if you got the finish."

Remi took a deep breath and went for a powerful shot—but it flew too high.

The ball soared over the goalpost.

David burst out laughing. "Man, you had me scared for a second!"

The crowd chuckled, and even Tosie giggled. Remi clenched his fists.

"One more chance!" he demanded.

David shrugged. "Alright, one last shot."

This time, Remi focused. He controlled his breathing, dribbled forward, and instead of power, he went for precision. He aimed for the bottom corner—and this time, the ball slipped past David’s outstretched hands into the net.

The crowd erupted. Tosie clapped.

"Okay, okay," David admitted, walking up to him. "That was nice."

For the first time, Remi felt like he belonged.

Training Intensifies

That night, he pushed himself even harder.

5 km jog around the neighborhood

100 jumping jacks

50 push-ups

60 squats

Dribbling through cones

Shooting drills using empty water bottles as targets

His shirt was soaked in sweat, but he didn’t stop.