Chapter 10 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The qualifiers were of a single-elimination format, and both schools would draw lots ahead of the match to decide at which school the game would be played. After a few rounds, the last four would then enter the semi-finals before playing either a third or fourth placing match, or the Grand Finals at Luoyang’s Xigong Stadium. Each match would be broadcasted live on the city’s television channel; considering Zhongyuan’s presence in the Luoyang competitive district, to enter Xigong Stadium was a great honor for many of the high school soccer teams in the region.

…

Saturday, 2.45pm; the National High School Soccer Championship Regional Qualifiers—Luoyang Division—the “Chenguang Cup”

The opening ceremony of the competition was held at Zhongyuan High’s stadium, and by 3.00pm, every match in 32 high schools would kick off simultaneously at the sound of the chief referee’s whistle.

After they drew lots, it was decided that the Shu Guang–Zhong Xin game would be played at Shu Guang’s grounds.

When Zhang Jun arrived in school at 1.30pm, he thought he was the earliest until he saw that almost everyone else had already arrived.

“Really! It’s still so early, what’s there to do here?” He exclaimed in slight disgruntlement.

“Aren’t you here too?” Yang Pan said a little loudly as he approached him from behind with headsets on.

“She dragged me here.” Zhang pointed at Su Fei by his side.

“Roger! Roger!” His teammate nodded.

Su Fei pointed at Yang and told her neighbor, “Do you see that? Now that’s chilling! Listening to music before the game.”

Zhang pouted. “It’s just to hide his nerves.”

Somehow, Yang heard him through his headsets. “No! No! Soccer and music are my life! Here we go! Ale, ale, ale! Go, go, go! Ale, ale, ale!”

His teammate flung his head around as he sang the lyrics to the French World Cup theme song, “The Cup of Life” at top of his lungs. As he did so, Zhang backed away and tugged their team manager along. “Be careful, he’ll bite.”

…

Three luxurious coaches packed with people drove into Shu Guang High as the clock hands reached 2.25pm; their opponents had arrived. The sight immediately caught the attention of all the Shu Guang players, who had just been warming-up.

“Zhong – Xin – Heavy – Machinery – Technical,” An Ke read out the words inscribed at the side of the vehicles. “Hell! Industrial schools are really loaded! One trip and it’s three buses; what a parade!”

The leading coach door opened slowly and the Zhong Xin team alighted; the other two buses were for their cheerleading team.

Looking at the huge buses, Zhang recalled the time when he, as a second-year, debuted for Kai Tuo Middle School alongside Yang Pan, Yuan Gang and Liu Peng. Their school did not have a reserved bus for the students then, and they ended up having to travel on a delivery truck; during that occasion, the coach and their advisor were seated up front, while the whole team was left to squeeze into the truck’s loading area.

But in the present, most schools now had their own team bus; some of them were even as large and as luxurious as Zhong Xin’s. It was just within a span of two years! In the blink of an eye.

At the sight of Zhang, who was staring intently at the buses, Ren Yu De asked, “What are you thinking about?”

The other mumbled in response, “Reform and Opening in China is such a wonderful thing!”

“Loony!”

As soon as the Zhong Xin cheerleaders got off the bus, they immediately claimed a spot on the rostrum and sounded their drums. They raised huge flags and hung up a wide variety of their team’s slogans. They were truly a cheerleading team that had been through the “battlefield” and were capable of charging the atmosphere almost instantly. By comparison, Shu Guang’s students were properly indifferent towards their school team’s match; there were no war drums, no flags, no chanting of catchphrases, and not a single cheer.

Watching the opposing team’s cheerleaders seemingly switch the arena they were visiting into their home ground, even Shu Guang’s headmaster, Qiu Zhengmin moaned, “Just look at their vigor, how could we not lose?”

In the locker room, the roar of the Zhong Xin cheerleading squad seeped through despite locked doors and sealed windows. Zhang Jun smiled bitterly to himself. “Who are the home team again?”

Ignoring the rowdiness outside, Liang Ke growled, “I’ll name the team lineups first.

“Keeper, No.1, An Ke.

“Center-backs, No.3, Li Xiaopeng. No.4, Li Jieguang.

“Left back, No.6, Xie Yu. Right back, No.5, Liu Hui.

“Defensive midfielder, No. 8, Su Li.

“Left Midfielder, No.20, Ren Yu De. Right Midfielder, No. 7, Yang Pan.

“Attacking Midfielder, No. 10, Wang Bo.

“Strikers, No. 9, Zhang Rui. No.11, Zhang Jun.”

After listing the names of their starters, Liang Ke drew a breath before continuing, “In this game, we are playing in a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond-shaped midfield. A player to watch out for is their No.10, Shui Huajun. His individual skill is excellent, and as an attacking midfielder, his desire for goals exceeds that of even strikers. In the quarter final match against Zhongyuan last year, he alone exerted heavy pressure upon their defenses. That’s why you must never relax when marking him.

“But, he does have a little weakness—he is not much of a team player despite his role as an offensive midfielder, and he tends to go on solo excursions. So, just watch him, and Zhongxin would not be much of a threat. He’s all yours, Su Li!”

“You can count on me, Coach!”

“Wang Bo, your task is to pass to the left as well as right flanks to unleash our agile and skilled wingers.”

“Okay.”