Brilliant. Greg Pius

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СКАЧАТЬ be the best of mates as well as workmates. Saltos asked,

      "Well Simon, what are your long term goals."

      Without hesitation, Simon replied,

      "To be the best player I can be, to play for Australia and in the World Cup, if I am good enough."

      Chris Saltos said warmly,

      "Fine goals Simon. I have seen you play. You have what it takes to represent our country. When you do play for Australia, what number will you play under?"

      Simon shot back,

      "Number 4 and I will do all in my power to emulate the feats of our finest player who wore that number."

      Nodding seriously, Chris Saltos said,

      "Simon, you will go far in football and I am here to make sure that happens."

      Chapter 7

      The impact of Rodo's specialist training was obvious from Simon's next outing. The whole game some seasoned professional defenders tried to bottle him up but Simon defeated all their defensive ploys. Then when they decided to sideline Simon for the match he was able to escape all their ambush plays.

      After the match Simon rang Rodo on his smartphone once he was back home with his Dad. Firstly he thanked his new trainer for his timely advice. In a tone of grateful admiration he said

      "All your stratagems worked out perfectly. Those defenders never saw me switch sides into their blind spot. That is a great way to avoid close marking."

      Rodo was pleased with his new prodigy so he said in an expansive tone

      "Yes I was watching the match. They were no match for your new cunning. But you almost got boxed in when you chased that ball into the far corner. Leave those alone in future. Like a boxer caught on the ropes any striker trapped in a corner can be easily nullified.'

      Nodding his head at this new piece of wisdom Simon realized that he had many things still to learn So he said in a hopeful tone

      "When is our next session? I can hardly wait."

      In a tone similar to a schoolmaster Rodo said

      "Be at the training oval at first light. We will train before your team's recovery sessions. I have cleared it with your coach."

      Accepting that this man was going to be a hard taskmaster but not resenting it in the least Simon said in a positive tone

      "I'll be there coach!"

      Crossly but with a touch of humor Rodo snapped back

      "Don't call me coach. I am still a player. Its just That I am waiting for a game that befits my stature. Now get to bed early then get up an have a good breakfast. I am going to run you into the ground."

      Simon could not help responding to such a forceful command. So he forgot his orders by saying in a awed full tone

      "Yes sir coach..."

      Then Rodo finished the conversation by repeating his previous order but this time with his tongue firmly in his cheek

      "Don't call me coach. Now go have your dinner."

      After Simon signed off he smiled. To have such a great footballer in his corner was doing his confidence the world of good.

      Very early the next morning he was at the assigned location. Seeing Rodo talking with three other men he walked over calmly. They watched him coming towards them with expert eyes. When he got there the largest one said in gruff voice

      "Not much meat on his bones. We Germans like our strikers to be much more beefy."

      The tallest one joined in the running criticisms of Simon's physique. He said in a superior tone

      "Not much height to him is there? Should be easy to contain in front of goal."

      Finally the fox eyed one said in a cool tone

      "When did you two ever stop Rodo when he wanted to score? If memory serves me correctly our great opponent was a skinny as this one when he played his in his first world cup. You both underrated him then so don't be so quick to do the same to his protege. Lets see what the boy can do."

      Rodo nodded his acceptance of all that had been said. He spoke in a critical tone

      "I accept that he is ..yes too skinny ...as I was at his age. He is also too short to be one of the great headers of our game. But Maron was right to warn you not to prejudge him. Already he is the leading goal scorer in one of the top league competitions in the world. But lets put him through his paces then we can talk again about weight and height."

      Nodding all three companions took up their positions in front of the practice goal. One put on the goalkeepers gloves. The largest one covered the penalty spot. Maron hung near the far post. Then Rodo addressed Simon directly. In a measured tone he said

      "I am going to kick the ball over from the near corner. My three old time adversaries will attempt to stop you from scoring off my kick. You must evade their traps then score the goal. Got the picture?"

      Simon was in a daze. He saw three of the greatest players determined to stop him from scoring. It did not help much that Rodo was going to take a corner kick. When the ball landed at Simon's feet he would be all alone against two of the best defenders to ever play the game. Even if he should somehow beat them Simon still had to get past one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era. Gulping he replied as only a young man could

      "Ready coach!"

      Rodo said crossly

      "Don't call me coach. Now watch for your opportunity to score. I don't want to have to keep kicking this ball all day."

      Marching over to the near corner Rodo steadied himself for the kick. Simon got the sense of where the two defenders were standing. From the corner of his eye he picked up the position of the goalkeeper. Before he was ready the ball was in the air on its way to his feet. Simon used one of Rodo's tricks to avoid the mark he felt coming his way. He deliberately ran away from goal then pivoted before racing back to intercept the ball just as it landed in the penalty box. Using his left boot he slammed the ball into the net.

      Three very surprised internationals stood looking at him with new respect. Rodo broke the silence by saying in a joking tone

      "Chadda you always were a sucker for that ploy. As for you Maron I am surprised you fell for it seeing as how you planted me on my backside the last time I tried that little stunt. Borsnak you were beaten for pace admit it. Now you see why I say this boy has potential."

      The other three nodded even if a tad reluctantly. Chadda said with a sneer

      "Lets see him try that again. He wont get it so easy next time."

      But Maron shook his head. He said in a frank tone

      "Sure the boy was a bit lucky but did you see that turn of speed. Rodo he is as fast as you were when you started. The lack of size has given his feet the pace of an Olympian. Did you see the way he knew where each of us were positioned?"

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