YOU'VE GOT ME

Coach Straus droned on but Simone had zoned out… his mind was burnt… no, charred was the word.

Thirteen games in a row and he had not netted any goal yet (not even in training)… since the 2013 season started. What good was a striker who didn’t convert chances? He was the most expensive player on the planet right now and the previous season had seen him win UEFA footballer of the year … with 57 goals that season

His thoughts were tied up in knots at too many points… his nights were wrapped up in too many layers that by the time he finished unravelling them, his alarm would clang 05:00… meals were poison and he was fast losing weight. 

He had complained to the Team Psychologist… visited different psychotherapist after the first five games of the season without goals and they all said the same thing… he was in top shape… but he knew different. 

It sounded distant, but he could recognize the coach’s voice… he jerked in surprise as a team mate poked him

“Simone…Simone?” Coach Strauss was saying “are you okay?” 

“Sorry coach… I don’t think I can play the second half?” Simone asked with confusion inscribed on his face 

“Where have you been the whole time?” Coach Strauss asked in dismay “I already said you were off the team till you got your groove back” 

This was the height… Simone knew his team depended solely on him… and if Coach Strauss had decided to bench him till he started scoring in trainings… then he too had given up on Simone. He watched the team roll out for second-half but didn’t move an inch… nobody cared enough to bother him. 

When the last man had gone out he went to his locker and started clearing out his stuff… he needed a break and he didn’t care what his contract said, he was going to hide away for the next two weeks. Then he found an old diary his mum had bought him when he first moved to Spain… the year he signed his contract with Madrid… 

The first page stopped him cold… it was a prayer… it read “Dear God, thank you for the opportunity to play in the world’s biggest club… if you will crown me with the title of UEFA’s best in this club… I will publicly declare your son Jesus as the saviour of the world… if I don’t, take my groove away” 

Realization washed over him like fish in hot oil… he had reneged on his word… he was responsible for the goal drought he was facing… 

Straightaway he tossed everything back into the locker… slammed it shut… swiftly changed into a clean jersey… and rushed out… with a smile 

He knew what had to be done… suddenly; life wasn’t so terrible anymore…