#5 Representing Your Nation

[OblivionWalker]

Career Task 4

A number that Takeda did not recognize popped up on his phone and his brow furrowed. He recognized the country code immediately. +81, which meant that someone from Japan was calling him, but it wasn't his mother or father and that made Takeda both curious and suspicious. Was this just going to be someone selling something that had found his number on a list? Or was it something important?

Deciding to take the call, Takeda answered calmly. "Takeda Takahashi. To whom am I speaking?"

"Ohayou Gozaimasu, Takeda. This is Hikaru Moriyasu calling."

Takeda almost dropped his phone in complete shock. Hikaru Moriyasu? The coach of the Japanese national team? He was calling Takeda?

"I must admit I am very surprised to be hearing from you." Takeda said honestly and he was a little taken aback to hear Coach Moriyasu chuckling, but the sound wasn't at all unkind. More like he had once been in Takeda's shoes and could definitely relate to what was going through the young player's mind at the moment.

"We have been watching since you moved into the major leagues and we have been impressed with the way you have grown with both Rova and Liffyside. You have shown that you're willing to work, to put everything into becoming a better player. You coaches are impressed with your maturity and the way you are accepting of correction and suggestion. We are looking to put together our roster for the next World Cup, and we would like you to be a part of it." Moriyasu said, every bit as honest as Takeda had been.

It took Takeda a moment to answer, his brain feeling like a cyclone of thoughts and feelings. "It would be an honor, Coach Moriyasu. I will make sure I continue to work and improve so that I may be ready to help Japan on to glory on the pitch."

"We have every confidence that you will, Takeda. We will be in touch with the schedule and what we may need you to work on."

As the call disconnected, the phone slipped from Takeda's shaking fingers, plopping onto his bed softly.

It was real. He was going to be playing for Japan alongside legends like Yoma Hashimoto and Shingo Takechi and Takeda just hoped he would be able to make the most of the opportunity.

[Afrhite]

Versatility

First time representing the group of Eurasia, Mazeed was quite humbled by the pressure ahead. Playing in the academy is one thing, playing in a Minor team is another, being picked to be captain of said team in his rookie year is sure something else entirely, however... Being picked for the World Cup is on a whole other level, it's a grand stage where legend can be born, it is the greatest stage of them all.
The Eurasia selection felt familiar to al-Kazmi, it reminded him on his rookie year at Krung Thep. A team with lot to prove, filled with good players but too much concentrated in a certain area of the game. As if thing could'nt be more stressfull, al-Kazmi was appointed sub-capitain. Being remotly close to a leadership role in a international selection surrounded by veteran in the SSL.. This was the thing that broked his mind. The head coach we had, needed to make hard choice.

Our first formation was strikerless, in concept it could have worked which it did but the result produced by it was completly different from what was expected. Their first match concluded with the score of 0-1, not a ideal start but showed the team could handle the world level. The second match was a bit more tensed, ending on a last minute goal, 2-3. Another loss, the next one would determine their faith in the World Cup. Unfortunatly, they lost 3 to 9. Extremely demoralizing. And in the end, Eurasia finished the group stage with 4 loses, knocking them out of the tournament.

Everyone in the locker room after that were extremely frustrated as they should. The pressure was getting to him, for the first time in his career, he felt so much pressure that Mazeed had to flee the lockeroom into his hotel room, full blown panic attack.

Something broke inside al-Kazmi psych that day and when Mazeed returned to Krung Thep for late night practice like the usual, he seemed more irretable than usual. More reckless, more aggressive, simply put, everything he was doing during that night was made with emotions compare to his usual calmness. Let's hope this "new" vision on training isn't going to have negative lasting effect on his performances...

[ValorX77]

CPT#4 Versatility

Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame was busy practicing with CD Tenochitlan when team manager Divingo approached her with some important news: she had been named to the English national football team, and as a special tune-up, the team would tour the world and play other SSL clubs. This was indeed a childhood dream for Liz, who would often ask for English football kits for holiday presents, and would often sing "It's coming home" in the shower, often waking up sleeping teammates back when she played for the Manchester Roses. The catch is that most of the players that Liz would be playing with are not from the Tenochitlan organization. In fact, this team was actually called the British Isles, which also included players from Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Ireland. There was one player from the CDT organization who would join Liz on the roster in the form of Tonto Tut, who would serve as the team's main center midfielder, while ERB would ride the bench behind the team's main strikers in the form of Sterling Scott, Sean O'Leary, and Eric Belmont, all of Irish descent. Now, Liz was quite shocked to learn that she had made the roster because she would be the only female player on the team. She also felt confident because she would take part in the World Cup, the premier football championship in the world. She also felt a bit anxious because she often struggled to understand Welsh and Irish languages, and their specific dialects, which creates some form of a communication gap between her and the Irish players. Finally, she also felt nervous about being the reason if the team would not do well come tournament time, as the English media would obviously hound her for being a woman on a mostly man-driven roster, and the obvious stereotypes about it. Liz is ready to shine on the world stage, showing that her flame was only growing larger by the day.