Rise of a Football God

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As soon as the phone call connected, a familiar voice came from the other side. "And see who decided to call me today!" Austin said in a loud voice.

Sam chuckled. "Hey boss, long time". Explore stories at empire

"What?!" Austin exclaimed from the other side of the phone. "How dare you call me boss?"

Sam was startled at first, wondering what he said wrong till Austin continued. "The Nigerian Zidane himself calling me boss, Sam, are you mocking me?"

"Wait, what? No, come on…"

"You're definitely mocking me, right?"

"No, Austin, come on!"

Austin laughed on the other side of the phone. "Chill out man, I was just pulling your legs. You've never changed despite spending so many months in England already".

Sam frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Austin chuckled. "You're still the same Abraka rat I know".

"Werey". Sam cursed in pidgin.

Austin laughed. "So how are you doing man? You never call, hope I'm safe this one you called today, how's football?"

Hearing that question, Sam smiled again. "Football is great man, really great".

Austin chuckled again. "You don't need to tell me man. Honestly, who doesn't know after you singlehandedly demolished Manchester United 2 days ago?"

Sam chuckled. "That's not funny, I didn't do it alone".

Austin sighed exaggeratedly. "It's relieving and at the same time really annoying to know that you're still the same humble Sam I know".

"Honestly man, you don't know how annoying it feels for you to say humble words like this after doing ridiculous things on the pitch. It's f*cking infuriating!"

"…" Sam was dumbfounded.

In the end, he just laughed. "Whatever you say man. Actually, I was feeling a bit nostalgic as I decided to go over my career again".

"Man, do you know that we played a total of 33 games including the playoff games in the 2022/2023 season?"

"Yeah, I know".

"Really?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Yeah. Who didn't know?"

Again, Sam was dumbfounded; he coughed. 'I didn't know!'

"Anyways man, I checked my goal contribution tally and I was shocked".

"43 goal contributions in 33 games right?"

"…" Again, Sam was dumbfounded.

"How did you know?!" He asked in a shrill voice.

Austin chuckled. "Who wouldn't know man? Like, you're seriously so annoying Sam!" He growled sarcastically. "How would you expect me to forget after witnessing such a legendary season in person?"

"To you, it may be normal that's why you can afford to forget, but not a single day passes that I don't remember that season Sam".

"With 24 goals and 19 assists in 33 games, making a total of 43 goal contributions, honestly, Sam it didn't seem like your first professional season at all".

"I've said it many times but you're a freak man!"

Sam blushed. "Stop saying such embarrassing things!"

Austin chuckled again. "Anyways, you were really amazing that season man. The best memories of my football career till now are from that season!" Austin's voice rose up a crescendo as he also started reminiscing.

"Man, do you remember our CAF champions league run?" Austin sighed exaggeratedly. "Crazy times man, crazy times".

"Of course I do!" Sam said as he also remembered.

"You remember our semifinal battle against Al Ahly? The one that ended in a penalty shootout. Damn! That game was nerves personified!"

"Crazy stuff happened that game man! Damn!"

"Don't shout in my ear on the phone". Sam complained.

"Shut up and listen!" Austin snapped. "That game was legendary man, Enyimba fans won't forget it even in years".

"Back in Nigeria, in Aba, they take me and you as legends already. Honestly, I never thought I would ever get such a status in this life".

"Then, what of the quarterfinal game? Even the final game against Wydad, and then the FIFA Club World Cup next season". Austin sighed. "Mannnn, it was the greatest season of my life bar none".

In the end, Sam could no longer bring himself to interrupt Austin as these 2 players drowned in memories, reminiscing together.

At some point, Sam even wanted to cry. 'F*ck! That's embarrassing!'

'But he keeps on making me remember such sweet memories, that bastard!'

In the end, after they were done reminiscing, they finally started talking about their personal lives and goals.

When Austin heard that Sam's big ambition for this season was to win the premier league, the first reaction of this player was to erupt in laughter but when he eventually calmed down, he became serious.

"Sam, are you serious?"

"Yeah".

"Wow!" Austin was amazed. "Honestly, I would say its bullshit coming from any other player but if it's you, I won't doubt it".

"There's only one problem," Sam sighed. "The premier league is not like the NPFL Austin. I'm a far better player than then now, but so is the competition, the competition is so much harder to play against".

"The defenders, all of my opponents are an upgrade".

"Remember those games when I singlehandedly take the game by the scruff of the neck and win? Here in the premier league, it's far harder to do so".

"It's just not sustainable every game when I go up against the likes of players that are even better than I am in pure skill and technique".

"Sam, you do know that your greatest attribute has never been your skill, right? But it's actually your mentality".

Sam kept quiet, letting him continue.

"Back in Enyimba, that mentality of yours affected all of us, making us play better. Honestly, that is what earned me my move here to Wolfsburg in Germany".

"I've watched a few Fulham games, I don't know if you see it yet but Sam you're already affecting that team, morphing it in your image".

"Fulham was a perfect example of a mid-table team in the premier league before your arrival but now, here you are winning against Manchester United".

"Honestly, Sam, that's a big step in the right direction".

Remembering something, Austin added. "I think something that helped us play so well in the CAF champions league was the good vibes around the team".

"If you really want to win the league, yes, you can't do it alone but if you manage to build the same good vibes in Enyimba in Fulham, I believe together alongside your teammates, you can".

"Ah!" Austin sighed. "I miss being your teammate man, I envy those mother*ckers so much. They better treasure you".

Sam cringed. "That sounds gay".

"Get lost!"

They both laughed.

By the end of the call, Sam felt so good and had so much clarity in his head.

In the end, he agreed with one thing that his friend said. 'The good vibes, I really need to bring it to Fulham'.

'It's easier for me to enter the zone state when the vibe is good'.

'And in the zone state, I tend to perform miracles'.

Sam's eyes gleamed with determination. 'I will start with Emile Smith Rowe'.