Under the scorching African sun, a group of boys were playing the beautiful game. There was no fancy AstroTurf, no perfectly fitted studs, it was just an exhibition of skill, joy and camaraderie. The ball was bursting at the seams and there were no spectators, but the art of football was on full display.
Two boys stood out. The tall, lanky lad with levitating feet loomed over the goalpost. The short, stocky who seemed to have glue stuck on his feet singlehandedly ran past the others. Koka, the goalkeeper smiled wryly as Evra the striker approached him.
"Not today Evra!"
Evra grinned and moved over the ball, he thought of going left and had just angled his foot to take the shot when he saw the gleam in Koka's eyes.
He kicked the ball slightly to the left, as another boy ran close to him. He quickly reached the ball and kicked the ball back with his heel. Then with a fluid movement he had reached the ball and kicked it to the right of Koka. Koka had been inching right the entire time. As Evra celebrated the goal, Koka hit the post in dejection and went back home.
His father was fanning the fire while his mother stirred the pot on it.
"Lost again son?"
Evra sat down with his head between his hands. He gave a muffled yes as a reply.
"You have to trust your instincts! That's how you save a goal."
"Appa, I don't think have any instincts." He kicked the ball in frustration, his stood up and wacked it with the ladle in her hand.
"No ball in the house."
Koka's eyes went round. "How did you do that?"
His mother rolled her eyes "Every time you lose, you kick the ball towards the food. I was prepared this time."
Koka's father laughed and winked at him "Instinct."
The foreign scout looked fondly at Evra and Koka. Tales of their skills had reached England and he had come to claim them to be a part of the youth academy of his club.
The boys couldn't be more different in temperament, yet they had a special bond. The tall, solemn and hard-working Koka who half-admired, half-despised the mischievous lazy genius of Evra.
The boys became even closer when they reached a foreign land. They spent their days practicing and perfecting their skills, dreaming of one day playing for the club team.
The boys had been inseparable since they were little, and they had always looked out for each other on and off the field.
Finally, the day of their debut match came. They were the clear favorites even though two rookies were playing on their team. It was a match against a low-ranking opponent.
The first half was unexciting as Koka guarded his post. Evra could not beat the opponent's defense as they saw right through his tricks.
In the second half of the match, Evra got a great pass, the goal was wide open, his feet hesitated, and he kicked the ball just wide of the goalpost. There was a collective groan from the crowd.
Evra hung his head. His feet felt like they'd been filled with lead. As he chased an opponent in his half of the field, he heard Koka say "Trust your instincts, you moron."
His feet picked up the pace as his confidence grew a bit. He glanced at his friend at the goal and ran towards the opponent. He kicked the ball softly to the left, as a defender ran near him. He quickly reached the ball and kicked the ball back with his heel. Then with a well-practiced movement he reached the ball and kicked it to the right of the goalkeeper.
He ran towards Koka to celebrate the goal.