Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 59: Fan Turnout

Chapter 59: Fan Turnout

Benjamin stepped through the gates of the AFAS Training Complex, his boots crunching softly against the gravel path.

The sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. A sizable crowd of fans had gathered near the sidelines, their cheers and chatter filling the air.

Some waved their scarves and banners, while others held up their phones, trying to capture every moment of the training session.

He adjusted the strap of his bag and moved toward the training grounds, nodding politely at the eager fans who excitedly greeted him by name.

"Benjamin!"

A young boy who looked no older than ten, waved his hands excitedly in his direction while clutching a jersey with Benjamin’s number 21 on it.

Such reaction from the young fan made him feel surprised as he wasn’t used to the feeling of being looked up to, but feeling flattered, he offered the young lad quick smile and a thumbs-up which earned a delighted cheer from the boy.

As he reached the edge of the field, a familiar voice called out to him. "Look who finally decided to show up!"

Benjamin turned to see the captain, Martens, jogging over with a grin plastered across his face. The midfielder slapped him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Morning, Captain," Benjamin said whilst still glancing at the crowd. "Is It always like this? Or did I miss a memo?"

Martens chuckled while folding his arms as he followed Benjamin’s gaze. "Not always, no. This? This is a special occasion. Our Europa League win last night has everyone buzzing."

Benjamin blinked and a light bulb lit up in his head as he connected the dots. ’Of course, that’s the reason.’

The previous night’s victory had been monumental for the AZ Alkmaar fans and the club as a whole. Winning in europe wasn’t something they experienced regularly and the victory over Anzhi Makhachkala, was worth celebrating.

"They’re here to support and encourage us to keep up the performance," Martens added, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "We don’t get this kind of turnout every day. These people want us to know they’re behind us. It’s nice, isn’t it?"

Benjamin nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah. It is."

"Now, go say hi to the others before Verbeek thinks you’re slacking," Martens teased, already jogging back toward the rest of the team.

Benjamin chuckled and made his way onto the pitch, exchanging greetings with his teammates as he passed.

The buzz of the fans blended with the lively chatter among the players, creating an atmosphere charged with energy and excitement.

As he reached a spot on the field, he set down his bag and began putting on his trainers after which he began stretching, his gaze flickering to the crowd every now and then.

Martens stood near the center circle while bouncing a ball lightly on his knee. Suddenly, he whistled sharply, catching the attention of the few players already on the pitch.

"Alright, lads," he called out, motioning for them to join him. "Since we’ve got some time before Verbeek kicks things off, let’s get the ball rolling—literally."

Benjamin jogged over, followed by a couple of others who had arrived, including Gudmundsson and Viergever.

The captain flicked the ball into the air, trapping it effortlessly with his right foot before passing it to Gudmundsson.

"Keep it moving around. Two touches max, and any more, you’ll have to wait out for the next round." Martens instructed, his tone sounded casual yet commanding.

"Aye, Cap!"

Gudmundsson took a light touch with the inside of his right foot before flicking the ball toward Benjamin.

The ball came at him with a slight bounce, but Benjamin adjusted quickly as he cushioned it with his left foot before sending it toward Viergever with a swift, clean pass.

"Nice," Martens said, nodding his approval.

The rhythm picked up as the group settled into the drill. The ball zipped between them with each player focused on keeping their touches controlled and their pass accurate.

The occasional shout of "Man on!" or "Switch it!" broke the steady thud of the ball connecting with boots.

Gudmundsson tried a cheeky flick over Martens, earning a laugh from the captain as he quickly intercepted it.

"Not today, mate," Martens said with a grin before passing it off to Viergever.

Benjamin’s ball control grew with each touch. And the familiarity of the ball at his feet steadied him, grounding him amidst the charged atmosphere.

The group continued and soon, the sound of footsteps and murmured greetings signaled the arrival of more players.

The chatter grew louder as the pitch slowly filled with teammates. Among them was Adam, who stopped short at the edge of the field and his eyes widening as he took in the crowd.

"Blimey," Adam muttered, his voice sounding low but was audible enough to draw Benjamin’s attention.

He jogged over, still looking at the fans lining the sidelines. "What’s going on here? Did I miss an announcement or something?"

Martens, who had just passed the ball to Benjamin, smirked. "Effect of an Europa League win, mate. The fans are here to make sure we know they’re proud of us."

Adam shook his head in disbelief, setting his bag down as he joined the group. "Never seen anything like this for a training session."

"Hopefully, we’ll get used to it," Martens said, shrugging as he received a pass from Benjamin and redirected it toward Adam.

Adam fumbled slightly on his first touch, the ball slipping away before he managed to recover.

"Rusty, eh?" Martens teased lightly which earned a laugh from the group.

"Just warming up," Adam shot back, sending the ball cleanly to Gudmundsson this time.

Benjamin couldn’t help but smile as the lighthearted banter flowed.

Despite the pressure of performing for the fans, the camaraderie among the team was evident, and it made the intensity of the moment feel lighter.

As the drill continued, more players filtered in, gradually forming small clusters across the pitch.

The hum of conversation and laughter mingled with the rhythmic thuds of the ball, creating a lively, focused energy.

Fweeee!~

Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

"Gather up, boys!"

Gertjan Verbeek’s voice carried across the field as he strode toward the center of the pitch with a whistle in hand. The coaching staff trailed behind him with their clipboards and stopwatches at the ready.