Soccer tournament!!

We were sitting in the gym when our P.E teacher came toward us smiling, he told us that he has a good news to us. We asked him what was it, he answer by saying “ you got accepted to the I.F.T”. We were astonished, a big smile was on our faces. We never thought that we would ever play in a tournament like this. The International soccer tournament, that took place in Dubai contains the strongest youth soccer teams in Africa and Asia. Our team was the only team from Abu Dhabi. This event is an important sport event in U.A.E.
The next step was getting ready for the tournament and choosing the team players. Our couch took two days to choose the team members due to the fact that our school has many good foot ball players.

On the third day he gathered all the football players which were 50 players from different classes and he choose 11 main players and 5 substitutes. I was standing next to my best friend waiting for the announcement. He started by saying the striker names , the wings, the midfield, and finally as he said the defenders my heart beats started going faster and faster. I was chosen as a main defender. I really felt happy that moment. It was a breathtaking moments, to choose 16 players between 50 players was a really hard thing to do for the coach.
He trained us on a daily basis. He gave us different roles trying to find our potential abilities. And I tried to give my best on the training days. I was always there in front of the goal keeper defending the goal from the strikers. And I showed a great defending skills, therefore our coach choose me as a central main defender.

Before the tournament we met the school principle and he encouraged us and stated that he is going to give us all the financial support we need. This made us feel better and made our hopes up. The next step was getting our team uniform, it looked gorgeous having the yellow shirts and black shorts. And it had also our names and numbers. And my shirt had my favorite number which is 47and on top of it my family name. It looked cool, and me and my best friend Bader which is the main striker in the team bought the latest addidas shoes to look stylish while playing.

On the tournament day we got really shocked by the number of teams and players on the field. The place had 4 pitches and there was a schedule of the matches. So we had a look on that and then went to the changing room and changed our cloth. As soon as we went out of the fitting room almost all the teams were looking at us. We looked like lions, our physical shapes were large and fit. We attracted all the other teams to us.

Then we gathered near our coach, and he started talking about the other teams and our matches. Our first match was against scorpion team. We took our places on the field and started warming up for the game. As the referee started the game we attacked their goal and after the 4th try Bader our best striker scored the goal. Then we continued defending and attacking till we won the game by 3 goals. The coach was very pleased with our performance and he was happy for my defending skills. I gave a big effort defending the goal. And just before the last match while I was going on a counter attack I terrible thing happened. I passed two midfields and just before I pass the ball to Bader two defenders slide under me and injured my ankle. I couldn’t move and the referee stopped the game and my ankle was being treated by the doctor.Then our coach pulled me off the game, due to my injury. I was able to walk but I felt a little pain and my coach was scared that it gets more dangerous so he made me rest for two games.

On these two games our team won one and lost the other. So we had our final match against Nigeria to either get the 2nd or 3rd place. Our couch made a new formation and I was a substitute. And as the game started the pressure was all from our team and after 20 min it was the opposite. The other team used the wings to pass the ball over the defenders. And I just couldn’t stand sitting and watching that happen. So I tried to convince the coach to get me into the game and he wouldn’t accept. I lost my nerves and kept shooting the practice balls on the other field till the coach called me after the 2nd goal and told me to wear my shirt. Then I ran into the center of defense which is my position and shouted to my other team members as I saw the smile of their faces when I got in. I told them to increase the attack and leave the defense on the defenders and me. We gave our best that game. The Nigerian strikers had an incredible speed but they couldn’t pass our defense. And in the lost time a ball passed one of the defense and I saw the striker running toward it. I couldn’t leave him alone so I ran after him with my whole speed and my ankle was hurting me but I didn’t stop I was aiming for the ball, and thanks god just as he was trying to shoot I kicked the ball in front of his leg and starting running on the side with it. Bader was free away from the defenders so I passed the ball to him and he scored an amazing goal. Then next thing we heard was the referee’s whistle. We started jumping and singing and we held our couch up and through him in the air and held him again. We really felt happy, it was our first international tournament and we made it and achieved the 2nd place.