Silent Striker by Pete Kalu

Author:Pete Kalu
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781908446398
Publisher: HopeRoad

Few things were bigger than football, Marcus thought, but this was one. He just managed to finish the text when the coach came calling him. ‘Marcus, you’re needed!’

He looked over. Leonard was in a sulk and the other players had their heads hanging. Leonard still couldn’t flight a simple ball.

‘I can’t teach him,’ Marcus said, ‘I don’t know how, I just do it.’

‘I know you better than that, Marky,’ said Mr Davies, walking with him over to the ball. ‘Show him how, like in slo-mo.’ Mr Davies did a slow-motion action of a man running to strike a ball. It got him laughs. Marcus smiled but shrugged.

‘Do it!’ Horse said, approaching him. Horse’s brow plunged, like he was going to drop Marcus there and then if Marcus didn’t do as asked.

‘Why should I do anything for him? Eh? Eh? Eh?’ Marcus said to Horse. Now who’s amused, Marcus thought.

‘Don’t push me, Marcus,’ said Horse.

‘Alright boys, easy now,’ said Mr Davies. ‘Are you going to show him or not, Marky? Go on, lad, just once.’

Reluctantly, Marcus planted the ball down on the free kick spot. Everyone got in position. Mr Davies waved play. Marcus skied the ball. There were groans all round.

‘I don’t know,’ said Marcus, ‘the moment I think about it I can’t do it.’

‘I’m disappointed in you,’ said the coach. ‘Not angry. Disappointed. I thought you were better than this pettiness.’

Marcus shrugged. Yes, he’d deliberately skied it. But he didn’t feel bad at all. Maybe it would teach Leonard something.

Leonard tried again. By his tenth effort he was getting it in the zone at least. Finally Jamil managed to pluck one out of the sky. He let it drop, took it at half-volley and smashed it home, then did his jig. A desperately relieved Leonard joined in with him.

‘There you go boys,’ said Mr Davies, ‘that’s what it’s about. Never give up. And again!’

Half an hour later, as they trooped back to the changing room, Leonard had made all of three good passes, but the coach was happy and was making out like Leonard had it all nailed now and they had every chance of winning.

When they got to the changing room, Mr Davies went off to deal with the broken-down water heater.

‘This Cup final’s gonna be Ghana versus Germany!’ Jamil shouted excitedly above the general racket.

‘What are you talking about … Sparrow?’ someone jeered back. Jamil had his eye patch back on and looked like a pirate again. ‘Jack’ was the word that had been said before ‘Sparrow’, Marcus worked out.

‘Simple. It’s Black versus White. Our team’s black, Bowker’s is white!’ Jamil declared.

‘So I’m black am I?’ said Dinners, the centre-back. He was white, with orange freckles.

‘You can’t talk Bowker white can you?’ said Jamil. ‘Oh excuse me chaps, what a good game’, Jamil imitated a posh accent.

‘Nope,’ said Dinners.

‘And would you have said what that Bowker captain’s dad said?’ Jamil quizzed him.

‘Hell no!’ replied Dinners.

‘Then you, my friend, are a brother, you are black, bro!’

Everyone cheered and

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