Your work

Triumph
by
Linda, age 18.

Steambridge Stadium was filled to capacity. The huge arena could hold only so much but the soccer fanatics were not about to back out. Of course the game would be televised across the nation, but why watch a box when you can see the real thing? Tickets had been sold out for two weeks. Everyone heard the ‘good news’ and like ‘disciples’ heeded to its call.

The skies were grey and the clouds hung low ready to burst their seams, but no one was going to give in. Even the birds that perched high on the roof of the stadium made themselves comfortable awaiting the first whistle! Of course, these hawks were ready to swoop down and grab anything fleshy from the crowd below. The Angels’ fans adorned in blue and white regalia danced their way into the stadium and right across, ‘ole ole’s’ from the Stars’ fans echoed in the afternoon air; them with their screaming red and yellow costumes.

Back in the changing rooms, the teams were huddled together as their coaches gave them the final instructions for the game. This was going to be a strange match indeed. The teams would play for forty-five minutes and obviously some added injury time. The reason? The match they began the day before was cancelled during half time on account of the torrential rain, which hit too suddenly. Maybe it was a sign? Well, the mediums were left with that thought.

In the Angels’ changing room was a rather somber mood. Elias Bright, the coach did his best to encourage his boys. They were down to half a match’s time and had not netted a single ball. One of the players, Frank had lost his mother a week ago. Everyone felt his pain, but the game had to go on. It was a question of do or die. With one last word and a final prayer, it was time to go. Frank walked out with his teammates feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he choked back painful tears. ‘Mama, this is for you….’ he muttered under his breath as they made their way onto the pitch.

The crowds erupted as they cheered on their teams that appeared on the playing ground. Drum beats and horn blasts from the spectators made the cheers sound like chants from a cult or a traditional ceremony from probably a tribe from the Galapagos Islands? As usual the anthem curtain-raised the match and the players made acquaintances with each other. One coin toss later, the match was in play. The soccer fans chanted phrases to their teams’ players to boost their morale. The Stars were in control of the ball as they crossed over the other half of the field to take home a much needed goal. Samuel passed to Ryann, then Ryann to Antonio.

The Angels were obviously struggling to maintain their defense which seemed a bit strained. Antonio faked a front pass to Henry which Santos of the Angels fell for and back-passed to Mike. The crowd waited with bated breath as Mike pushed forward with the ball. Lee, the Angels goalkeeper stood at the ready. Coaches of both teams were up to witness this disaster or rather, success for the Stars. Mike volleyed the ball; it was headed straight for the net. Time just seemed to freeze. The Angels’ fans on the stands stood with their hearts in their mouths. Right across, the Stars’ fans got ready to lift their banners to celebrate their first goal. Even the birds seemed to fly in slow motion. For about three seconds the stadium was swallowed in silence. The hooting of vehicles in the city was quite distinct.

No one would have guessed it. From nowhere, or rather from what seemed like thin air, Frank appeared and deflected the ball. Where had he been all this time? Lee was shocked, but relieved. Everyone, even the commentators knew that was an assured goal. Bright was dumbfounded. Sebastian Mukka, the Stars’ coach was a tad disappointed; it was shock that mostly overwhelmed him. The Stars’ players did not know what to think. Mike especially was just confused. The Angels’ fans breathed out huge sighs of relief as the Stars’ fans questioned each other over how such a feat could have been achieved. Had no one noticed Frank slip into the penalty area? His team mates sighed with relief; a very strange kind.

The referee, though confused blew the whistle for the match to go on. He probably thought he was becoming myopic…..maybe. Those first three minutes of the match were quite something. Indeed, they were something. Forty-two minutes later, no progress had been made, save the minor injuries and numerous fouls that dominated the match. ‘Injury time, two minutes….’ was the last the players heard from the loudspeaker.

Frank was tired, soaked in sweat and just needed to quit. Dustin whispered a couple of words to him as they set off to play the last two minutes. Everyone on the Angels side was roughed up, weary looking and seemed to be hanging on the last string of hope; if at all there was one. The Stars side however was strong and determined to take home the championship cup. With one last boost of strength and determination, Frank shouted to his team mates…..’Let’s take it back guys!’ Meanwhile, Bright paced up and down, looking at his watch every ten seconds. ‘Come on, come on! Make something happen guys, come on!’ he kept muttering. Mukka on the other hand kept cursing, under his breath of course… ‘Idiots! I don’t need this now…’

Jimmy of the Angels was in possession of the ball, but lost it to Paul of the Stars. Jesse grabbed it again from the Stars and took it home. The Stars defense was too strong and it would definitely take a miracle to get past it. Jesse passed it to Santos, Santos back passed to Dustin. According to the clock, thirty seconds of play was all they had. Dustin to Dennis, Dennis back to Dustin. The Stars defense was not giving in. Twenty seconds of play left. Dustin to Santos, Santos to Jesse. The spectators fell silent. Bright held his breath for a couple of seconds. The commentators hushed their voices. Ten, nine, eight, seven……….’Oh boy!’ uttered Jesse before kicking the ball into the air in an attempt to take it over the heads of the Stars’ players. Then….you guessed it, Frank jumped into the air and with three seconds to go gave the ball a header; a spectacular one at that. One, zero. The referee blew the final whistle.

The crowd exploded into celebration. Jubilation rang across the stands on the Angels’ side. Banners flew high and the crowd was in a frenzy. Song and dance rent the air as they celebrated their team’s victory. A victory that had been awaited for so long and now it was theirs. The chants grew louder with every passing second. Even across the country the devoted Angels’ fans danced to celebrate their success. Bright raced across the pitch and hugged his boys as they ran around the pitch drowning in their glory.

The Stars side and its dedicated fans however wallowed in misery. Theirs was a journey ended by a team they never imagined would reach its ranks in a million years. Mukka cursed away into the changing rooms. The commentators who eventually found their voices, talked about the marvelous tactics displayed by this young man, Frank. For the first time in that match, he managed a smile. He looked up at the sky that surprisingly allowed streaks of sunshine to peep through and fell to the ground on his knees. Raising his hands with his eyes closed and sunlight resting on his face, Frank blew a kiss into the air and finally said, ‘Thank you God….and mama, that was for you.’