Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 43: Touchdown Russia

Chapter 43: Touchdown Russia

**22-08-2012**

The hum of the airplane’s engines filled the cabin as the players settled into their seats.

Benjamin sat by the window while gazing out at the endless expanse of clouds. His thoughts shifted between excitement and nervousness as the realization of playing in a Europa League qualifier settled in.

While he wasn’t sure if he’d be in the starting lineup, he’d at the very least cemented his place in the first team and was going to experience his first ever european night game.

Next to him was Adam Maher who was stretching out his legs as he leaned back with his headphones on, nodding to a beat only he could hear.

Across the aisle from them, Jozy Altidore and Viktor Elm chatting in low tones, while Gertjan Verbeek and Martin Haar were seated further ahead, probably discussing tactics and whatnot in hushed voices.

Benjamin glanced down at his matchday guide book.

Dinamo Stadium Anzhi Arena, Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia.

Kickoff: 23rd-8-2012, 8:00 PM local time.

Opponent: Anzhi Makhachkala.

The name of their opponent lingered in his mind. He had looked through the club and discovered that this was only their third successive season of top-flight football in the Russian Premier League which was the highest tier of football in Russia.

They were currently seated in third place after an impressive run of form, mainly brought about by the purchase of top-class players like Samuel Eto’o, Lassana Diarra and the Brazilian, Willian.

The Russian side was no pushover and AZ Alkmaar, without an atom of doubt was the underdog in this encounter.

"First time in Russia?" He was pulled back from his thoughts as Martens asked from the row behind, leaning forward with a smile.

Benjamin nodded. "Yeah, and You?"

"Played there once before and it wasn’t a good experience. Long flight and the extremely cold weather. You should be ready for it," Martens replied while giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

The captain’s words stayed with Benjamin as the plane soon began its descent, the view below transforming from a sea of clouds to the sprawling landscape of southern Russia.

The city of Makhachkala appeared on the horizon, framed by the Caspian Sea.

When the plane touched down at the Uytash Airport, the players filed out one by one, greeted by a rush of cold air that carried the faint scent of salt from the nearby sea.

The Uytash Airport was bustling, but their arrival was met with minimal fanfare—security personnel soon arrived and ushered the team toward their waiting bus.

Benjamin followed the group, his breath visible in the cold evening air. The city of Makhachkala was a mix of modern structures and older, weathered buildings.

Streetlights flickered on as the team’s bus drove through the city roads toward their designated Hotel Alhambra.

Once they arrived, the players were given their room assignments and a quick rundown of the schedule. They would start with Dinner, followed by a light tactical session in the conference room.

Benjamin shared a room with Adam, who immediately dropped his bag on the nearest bed and flopped down with a sigh.

"What a long and exhausting trip," Adam muttered while staring at the ceiling.

Benjamin agreed with a silent nod as he unpacked slowly, his thoughts was already drifting to the next day.

***

Later that evening, the team gathered in the hotel’s conference room.

A projector displayed Anzhi Makhachkala’s recent matches on the wall as Gertjan Verbeek and Martin Haar stood at the front..The room was quiet, save for the manager’s voice and the occasional clatter of cutlery as some players finished their meals.

"Anzhi Makhachkala is a dangerous team and should not be underestimated under any circumstances," Gertjan Verbeek began in a somber but firm tone.

"They play a compact game by relying on quick transitions from defense to offense and most of all, individual brilliance from certain key players. Despite being on the last legs of his career, Samuel Eto’o is no doubt their main threat, but we shouldn’t forget about players like Zhirkov and Lassana Diarra. They can hurt us if we’re not disciplined."

Martin Haar chimed in while pointing to the screen. "While they are a good team offensively, their defense is quite... a level behind."

"Their defense isn’t the fastest, especially on the wings. That’s where we’ll look to exploit them. Gudmudsson, Berghuis, Beerens and Benjamin—you guys should run at them and actively try to take them on, while Altidore will hold up the ball and bring the midfield into play."

Benjamin nodded, it was indeed a good tactical approach but since we could notice such hidden loopholes, then the Anzhi Makhachkala’s management should be able to also.

The briefing continued and only the more experienced players asked questions, clarifying roles and movements, while the younger ones, like Benjamin, Berghuis and Adam, absorbed every word.

***

The night was quiet as Benjamin lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Adam’s voice soon broke the silence. " Are you asleep?"

"Nope," Benjamin replied, turning his head to glance at his roommate. Adam was sitting upright on his bed while tossing a small foam ball between his hands.

"What did you think of the briefing?" Adam asked, his tone sounded casual but was also laced with curiosity.

"It was good," Benjamin said. "Pretty straightforward, I think. Stick to the wings and exploit their defense. What about you?"

"Same," Adam said, shrugging his shoulders. "But let’s be honest here—it’s not like they’re clueless, right? They’ll have a plan for us too and It’s going to come down to who executes better tomorrow night."

Benjamin nodded in agreement and his gaze drifted back to the ceiling. The quiet stretched on for a moment before Adam chuckled softly.

"You know," he said while leaning back against the wall, "I heard Makhachkala has a decent nightlife scene."

Benjamin raised an eyebrow as he turned back to face Adam. "Nightlife? Here?"

"Yeah, why not? It’s a city like any other," Adam said with a grin on his face. "Probably some bars, maybe a club or two. Locals unwinding after a long day."

Benjamin frowned. "We have a match tomorrow. I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Come on, Ben," Adam said, his voice sounding persuasive. "We’re not going to do anything crazy. Just a quick look around, you know? And this is our first and maybe the last time in Russia, so we should soak in the atmosphere and maybe grab a drink—non-alcoholic, obviously."

Benjamin hesitated, weighing the idea. It was a hundred percent reckless and especially without telling anyone. But Adam’s reason was infectious, and the thought of exploring a new place, even briefly, stirred his curiosity.

"Only an hour... We’ll be back in an hour, nothing more."

Adam’s eyes brightened and he immediately added, sensing Benjamin’s resolve weakening. "Just an hour and no one will even notice."

Benjamin sighed while sitting up from the bed. "Fine. But if we get caught—"

"We won’t," Adam said quickly, already on his feet. "Trust me."