Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 4

< Trial Entry >

May 1st, 2027.

Today was the day for tryouts to select new players for West Ham Academy’s U-18 team.

“Hoo, hoo!”

“Okay, I feel good today. I think I can pass!”

Many kids were actively warming up on the training field where the tryouts were being held.

A rough estimate would put the number of people at well over 50.

However,

Only 5 of them would be able to join the academy through the final selection.

And even that was only if they exceeded the standards set by the club; there might not be a single successful candidate if they didn’t.

They were selecting a maximum of 5 people, not a minimum of 5.

As such, the West Ham Academy’s tryouts were not an easy gateway to take lightly.

Amidst the tension flowing through the training ground.

On one side of the training ground stands.

Yohan and Ban Seok-ho sat side by side, watching the field.

Yohan was sitting here because of his brother’s request to come to the training ground today.

His brother said that having his younger brother there would be a great source of support.

He couldn’t refuse his brother’s request, so he came anyway.

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence hung between the father and son.

Like most fathers and sons, they weren’t the type to have a lot of conversations.

Most of their interactions were one-sided nagging.

Ban Seok-ho had a lot to talk about with Rohan because they shared a common interest in soccer, but Yohan didn’t like talking about soccer, so there wasn’t much to talk about.

However,

Ban Seok-ho was secretly happy just to be sitting here awkwardly.

To be at the soccer field with Yohan.

Even though he knew that his brother had asked him to come.

Anyway, just sitting here and feeling the passion that the kids were exuding.

Might change his mind.

Isn’t that a common story?

Like the story of a friend who came along to a friend’s audition, but the friend who came to watch ended up being cast and becoming a top star.

‘What am I thinking.’

Ban Seok-ho realized what he was thinking.

What was he thinking with Rohan’s test coming up?

He should be praying for Rohan’s success, who had worked so hard and shed blood and sweat.

“Yohan.”

“…Yes?”

“Let’s cheer for hyung [older brother].”

“Yes.”

Ban Seok-ho tried to break the awkward silence.

Yohan answered briefly.

Even though their thoughts were different, they both wanted Rohan to succeed.

Hopefully, his efforts would bear fruit today.

“Everyone, pay attention! Take a vest one by one. Let’s get started!”

Soon, the tryouts were about to begin,

Ban Seok-ho and Yohan began to watch the ground with trembling expressions.

*

The tryout process was simple.

Starting with basic physical tests, they were evaluated on their ball-handling skills such as dribbling, passing, and kicking, and then they showed their tactical movements, such as how they moved in given situations.

Finally, they played an 11-on-11 game.

During this series of processes, the candidates had to showcase their skills and potential, and if they didn’t impress the coaches who were evaluating them, they had to go home.

“Candidates, line up in the order of the alphabet and number written on the vests you are wearing. If you are A1, stand in the front row here. We’ll start with the physical test.”

The start was from the physical test.

Starting with simply going back and forth on a straight course, a course that changed direction while sprinting at full speed, and a course that moved back and forth and left and right between cones placed in a square.

The work of judging speed, stamina, agility, and physical balance unfolded.

“Beep-! Number 13, please come out.”

“Ha, I’ll try one more time!”

“No. It’s okay. Please come out.”

“Ah, no!”

As soon as the test started, dropouts began to occur one after another.

The dropouts all begged for one more chance, but the coaches were cold.

The tryout was only a concept of additional acceptance.

In the first place, children who show potential are scouted and joined the team early,

Expectations are not high for children who come to see the tryout.

Therefore, the tryout, where you have to drink the cup of failure if you make a mistake even once, is like walking on thin ice.

That’s why Ban Seok-ho and Yohan, who were watching the test while waiting for Rohan’s turn, had no choice but to be anxious.

‘Still, he always got good scores in physicals.’

Still, he wasn’t too worried about the physical test.

First of all, the family itself was born with physical gifts.

The physical conditions themselves were so good that there was no man in the family, including the brothers, who was under 180cm [approximately 5’11”].

Just because they were big didn’t mean they had bad agility or balance.

Not to mention stamina.

Rohan was training every day, so how good would his stamina be?

Rohan had received high scores in the physical test as well in the past tests where he had continued to drink the cup of failure.

However, one thing that bothered me was.

It was the ankle injury that I was worried about whether it had fully recovered yet.

“Next, number 15.”

“It’s hyung [older brother].”

Ban Seok-ho and Yohan swallowed at the same time as it became Rohan’s turn.

As the two watched anxiously, Rohan began to run.

Tata Tat-!

But,

“Hmm…”

Ban Seok-ho’s brow furrowed as he watched Rohan’s running.

The record that I had measured directly during training was quite good.

But,

His body seems heavy today.

Looking closely at the running form, it looked uncomfortable somewhere, and it was a little different from usual.

‘Isn’t it still perfect…’

It seemed like he was worried about his right ankle.

I definitely recovered as much as possible.

However, since it hadn’t been long since he was injured, there would be some discomfort.

I was also worried that he might get hurt again at this important moment.

Because of that,

Ban Seok-ho was giving the impression that he was not doing his best.

The part I was worried about had become a reality.

‘It’s not good.’

It was a big deal.

Still, at that level, it wouldn’t be the dropout cutline.

But Rohan’s goal is not just to go to the end, but to pass the final.

The scores of the tests are scored in real time, and candidates who do not meet the standards are dropped in real time.

Among the candidates who remain until the end, the successful candidates are in order of total score.

In other words, it was important to get the best possible score in the areas where you have strengths.

“Beep-! Okay, next!”

As you can see from Rohan’s expression after finishing the first test, it wasn’t refreshing.

It didn’t feel like he would be able to get a very high score.

‘Ah, how cruel…’

It was a pity.

Rohan was desperate.

He was so desperate that he got injured trying to train more.

However, that desperation is rather holding him back.

What a cruel thing to say.

“The real thing is from now on…”

But the real problem was different.

Anyway, he passed the physical test.

From now on, Rohan’s weaknesses will be revealed.

The next thing after the physical test was dribbling.

A course that dribbles between the flagpoles lined up in a row in a zigzag pattern.

It was a session that required both fast speed and delicate control.

Out of Rohan’s five dropouts, three were dropped from this course.

It was the most vulnerable part.

‘It’s a part that can’t be perfected with training alone…’

After all, dribbling is the real area of talent, even in the area of ball control.

Why are dribblers who can beat one or two people as they want treated so preciously?

That’s because it can’t be done with training alone.

If it could be done with training,

There would be no players who are not dribblers.

Rohan spent the most time preparing for this test, but

I’m still worried.

In addition, he may become impatient because he did not perfectly perform the physical test.

I just hope that he will not care and show 200 percent of his skills.

“Beep-!”

Rohan’s dribbling begins.

Slowly dribbling the ball to the front of the flagpole,

Tata Tat-!

Quickly increases speed from the first flagpole where time measurement starts.

The start was not bad.

However, speed is important, but it is a test that should not be rushed.

Mistakes are bound to come out as you become impatient.

You just have to leave it to the flow as you trained, as your body moves.

But,

The worried appearance was revealed this time as well.

I thought the speed was faster than during training, but no, it wasn’t.

Mistakes started to come out.

“Kut…”

Ban Seok-ho bites his lip.

It was not a big mistake.

The dribble just bounced a little long.

However, once a mistake comes out, the rhythm is broken.

Even if you try to cover it in a hurry, it leads to another mistake.

Tata Tat-

Tata Tat-!

The dribble is getting longer and longer.

The rhythm of passing through the flagpoles in a zigzag pattern also changes irregularly, and naturally the speed also slows down.

A precarious appearance that feels uneasy even from the distant stands.

‘Damn it…’

The desperation that this might be the last time.

The annoying injury.

Even the impatient mind.

Ban Seok-ho couldn’t help but feel sorry for Rohan, who was not able to show his skills.

In fact, it was always like this.

Rohan was still doing well during training.

He was definitely not at a level where he could not pass the academy test.

But he is weak in practice.

As I always said, it was because of his weak mentality.

Just like now, his mistakes are happening one after another because he is impatient.

Rohan often collapsed on his own.

‘If he hadn’t gotten hurt…’

Yohan was also filled with regret and anger at the same time.

Yohan knew his brother’s usual appearance.

He was a brother who could do much better than now.

When he was in good condition, he was a brother who was competitive enough compared to the other kids taking the test together.

But, unfortunately, he was not able to show his skills because he was injured a while ago.

But the coaches who are watching the test would not look at such inside stories.

So I can’t help but feel wronged.

‘No…!’

The coach in charge of watching Rohan’s dribbling was already holding a whistle in his mouth.

He hadn’t blown it yet, but he was about to blow the whistle if he made even one more mistake.

Yohan and Ban Seok-ho just hoped that there would be no more mistakes.

However.

Rohan’s body was no longer moving as he pleased.

Tuk-!

“Beep! Number 15, come out.”

“Ah…”

“…”

Eventually,

The coach’s whistle blew.

Rohan stops dribbling with a hollow expression.

But Rohan was not given time to despair.

Because he had to make room for the next person.

It was truly a cruel game.

‘He worked so hard…’

Yohan covers his head.

Yohan knew better than anyone else how hard his brother had worked.

If you ranked by effort, his brother would definitely be number one here.

But due to a combination of bad luck, he was not able to show his skills as much as his efforts.

Even from the viewer’s point of view, regret and anger could not help but boil.

But,

It was at that very moment.

“Wow, he failed again?”

“Who?”

“You know, number 15. Don’t you know him?”

“I don’t know. Who is he?”

“Why, he’s the kid who was famous for being Banni’s son. But he’s become even more famous for failing every time. I think this is his fifth or sixth time.”

“Huh. Banni’s son? But he still hasn’t passed after the sixth time?”

“Yeah. He was there when I took the test. But I’m already in my second year as a trainee.”

Sounds of guys chattering arbitrarily from behind.

Banni was the nickname British fans called Ban Seok-ho.

As if they didn’t even dream that Banni was sitting in front of them, the guys were gossiping about Rohan.

“Wow, how can he only do that much even after inheriting that blood? It’s ridiculous.”

“It’s really ridiculous. His dad was such a famous soccer player.”

“It’s a disgrace to the family, a disgrace.”

“Or, maybe the talent of that family wasn’t that great in the first place?”

“That could be it. Haha!”

Squeak-

Yohan’s molars made a cracking sound.

I couldn’t stand it any longer just listening.

Without even knowing.

Without even knowing how hard his brother worked.

What? A disgrace to the family?

To Yohan, who cherishes his brother more than anyone else, their insults were unbearable.

“Yo, Yohan. Sit down.”

Yohan jumped up from his seat, and Ban Seok-ho urgently grabbed Yohan’s hand.

No matter how much he doesn’t even fight because it’s annoying, it’s obvious that something big will happen if Yohan starts a fight with the same physical.

“Let go.”

“Yohan!”

However, Yohan was already so angry that even his dad’s restraint was useless.

But,

“Yohan…?”

Yohan had no intention of fighting in front of his dad.

Instead,

Yohan began to stride onto the field.