Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 65: Final Training Session

Chapter 65: Final Training Session

Ashley held up her phone, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she expertly angled the camera. "Alright, give me a natural smile. Something that says, ’I’m cool, but approachable.’"

Benjamin rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the smirk tugging at his lips. "So, no brooding footballer look?"

"Exactly," she said, nodding sagely. "Save that look for the magazine covers. Right now, we’re all about charm."

He chuckled, leaning forward slightly as she snapped a quick photo.

Click!

"Perfect!" Ashley exclaimed, examining the screen. "You’ve got the whole ’boy-next-door-who’s-also-a-football-star’ vibe down. Fans are going to eat this up."

Benjamin shook his head, bemused. "Boy-next-door? That’s a new one."

Ashley ignored him while her fingers kept flying across the screen as she set up the Instagram account. "Okay, let’s start simple. Name, bio, profile picture... done."

She turned the phone toward him, showing off the freshly created page. The bio read: Benjamin Yinka Rijkaard. Footballer for AZ Alkmaar. Just getting started.

"See? It’s clean, professional, and straight to the point," she said proudly.

Benjamin leaned closer while squinting at the screen. "And what’s this ’just getting started’ bit?"

"That’s called Marketing," Ashley said, as if it were obvious. "It tells people you’re on the rise. Now, for the caption..." She paused dramatically. "How about: ’New Chapter, new goals. Let’s make it count.’"

He raised an eyebrow. "That’s not cheesy?"

"Not cheesy," she insisted. "It’s Inspirational. There’s a difference."

Benjamin sighed, shaking his head with a grin. "Fine, go ahead. Post it."

Ashley’s fingers hovered over the screen, and with a quick tap, the post went live. She did the same thing for both Twitter and Facebook before she handed the phone to Benjamin, watching as he stared at the screen.

"There you go. Welcome to the world of social media," she said, leaning back with a satisfied smile.

Benjamin scrolled through the account, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "So, this is it, huh? Just... pictures and captions?"

"For now," Ashley said with a teasing smile. "Give it a few days. Once people find out it’s the Benjamin Rijkaard, you’ll see the followers roll in."

He glanced up at her, smirking. "The Benjamin Rijkaard?"

"Absolutely," she said while raising her glass in mock seriousness. "Soon to be football’s next big thing—and milk ambassador extraordinaire."

"Hahaha!" Benjamin laughed, shaking his head as he handed the phone back. "Alright, we’ll see. But don’t expect me to be glued to this thing."

Ashley grinned. "Oh, don’t worry. I’ll handle the hard part. You just keep playing football and looking good doing it."

Benjamin rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at his lips. "Deal."

***

The next morning brought a crisp chill that hung in the air as Benjamin stepped onto the training pitch.

The sun was still low in the sky, casting long shadows across the perfectly trimmed grass of the AFAS Training Complex, but the energy among the players was electric.

It was Saturday—the final training session before the clash with Heerenveen. The stakes were clear, and so was the focus of the team.

Coach Verbeek stood in the middle of the field with a clipboard in his hand. His voice sounded sharp and commanding as he barked instructions to the players. "Alright, listen up! We’re running possession drills first. How to play through tight spaces and also make quick decisions. Two-touch maximum. Keep it sharp and keep the ball moving."

The players split into small groups, forming tight circles. Benjamin found himself paired with Maher, Gudmundsson, and a couple of senior players. The ball zipped between them, with their feet barely brushing the surface before it was gone again.

"Quicker, Benjamin!" Maher called out in a teasing but encouraging tone.

Benjamin adjusted his posture, his touches growing more precise, and his passes more incisive. The ball came to him again, and this time, he turned sharply, slipping it past Gudmundsson with a clever flick.

"Better!" Gertjan Verbeek shouted from the sidelines. "That’s the kind of thinking we need tomorrow. Keep it unpredictable."

The drill intensified as defenders were added, turning the game into a chaotic dance of movement and decision-making.

Benjamin felt the pressure mount as the defenders closed in like a pack of wolves, but he stayed calm.

With a quick feint and a drop of the shoulder, he slipped through one defender, delivering a low pass to Adam, who finished with a clinical touch.

"Nice one, Ben!" Adam grinned, giving him a quick clap on the back.

After a short water break, the team regrouped for attacking drills. Cones and mannequins were set up to mimic Heerenveen’s predicted defensive shape for tomorrow’s game.

Gertjan Verbeek gestured toward the setup, his voice carrying over the field.

"Alright, we’ll be working on breaking them down in the final third with fast transitions, and quick combinations. I want movement off the ball, and I want quality in the final pass. No half-hearted efforts."

The drill began with the midfielders feeding the forwards. Benjamin stood just outside the box, watching the patterns unfold.

Adam made a clever run, dragging a mannequin defender with him, creating space. Gudmundsson received the ball, and turned sharply before threading a pass into the gap.

"Benjamin, go!" Gertjan Verbeek’s voice snapped him into action.

He darted forward, while making sure that his timing was perfect before meeting the ball with a clean strike. It sailed into the top corner, brushing the net with a satisfying thud.

"Excellent finish!" Gertjan Verbeek called out, nodding in approval.

The team repeated the drill, refining their movements, testing different combinations. Benjamin found himself at the heart of several plays, his confidence growing with each successful pass and shot.

By the end of the attacking drills, the players were drenched in sweat but buzzing with anticipation. Gertjan Verbeek gathered them in a huddle, his tone firm yet encouraging.

"Good work today. That’s the level I want to see tomorrow. Keep it tight, keep it sharp, and most importantly, trust each other. Heerenveen won’t make it easy, but if we play like this, they won’t stand a chance."

Benjamin glanced around the circle, meeting the determined gazes of his teammates. The match was less than 24 hours away, and he felt eager and hungry to play.