‘We all miss Lil. Even though my ears could do with a break from her cheering.’
Quiet laughter rippled around the room.
‘The Rovers are a good team and no good team relies solely on one player. I know it’s disappointing that Lil isn’t here but the one thing we can do for her is play like she’s out there watching us.’ He stood up. ‘We’re in this together and, since she can’t be here, this game will be for Lil.’
Nobody moved from their slouching, hunched over positions.
‘All right,’ the coach sighed. ‘If I can’t do it maybe this can.’
‘Hey Rovers!’
Lil had poked her head around the door of the sheds.
‘Lil! Are you going to play?’ Josie asked.
‘I wish. My doctor wants me to have one week away from any sport just to be safe. Which is crazy because I feel fine and I tried to tell her how great the team was and that I couldn’t let them down, but she wouldn’t listen and then I thought, that’s okay, because I’m in the best team in the comp.’ Lil raised her hand in the air in a fist. ‘Go the Rovers!’
Jasper joined in. ‘Go the Rovers!’
Tricky gave a half smile and did the same, followed by Josie, Nutmeg, Nippy and the others, until they stood in a circle with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
‘Now I feel like I’ve got my team back.’ Coach Wallace grinned as widely as if he’d won the game already. ‘Now about today’s game, the Hurricanes are always coming up with surprises, so they need to be watched. Play fair, play well and play as a team. Enjoy yourselves!’ He paused.
‘And Jasper?’
‘Don’t worry, Coach, there’s no chance I’ll be daydreaming.’
There was something different about the way the Rovers left the change rooms and walked out onto the field. Each player felt like they were taller and had some kind of spring-loaded inner soles lining their boots.
And even though Jasper had promised he wouldn’t, he couldn’t help his mind imagining they were all world-class soccer stars, walking out into a giant stadium, like Maracana in Brazil, about to play a world-class match.
He led the way into the morning sun, the giant stadium rising on all sides around him like the Colosseum. He adjusted his sunglasses and stopped just long enough to scribble a few autographs along the way. Girls swooned as he passed, paparazzi cameras clicked and flashed as the Rovers strutted onto the field as the finest team ever gathered. They only just heard the coach take them through their warm-ups over the screaming fans. Finally, they were ready to take the field.
Jasper flicked his sunglasses to an adoring fan, who fainted.
Then the real game began.
Nippy gained possession easily and controlled the ball with short sharp taps of her boot, keeping it just in front of her and always under control. Her marker moved in and tried to tackle but Nippy turned her back on him and passed the ball to Tricky.
Tricky smiled as he took possession and chipped the ball over his opponent’s head to Diego. Without wasting a second, Diego plunged forward with the ball speeding in front of him. Seeing Nippy make a run, he sent the ball sailing towards her with a strong instep pass. Nippy leapt forward and took the ball with long strides before sending it to Noggin, who effortlessly headed the ball past the goalie’s hands, safely into the back of the net.
The Rovers went nuts! They yelled and hugged each other like they had won the World Cup. Jasper turned to wave at Lil, who was jumping up and down on the sidelines, while her father tried to calm her down, knowing it was against doctor’s orders. It wasn’t just the goal. It was the way it had happened. It was the chemistry Jasper had been telling them about. Each one of them felt it, even Mugger, who didn’t join in the excited scramble but stood at the end of the field with a small grin on his face.
The game restarted with the Hurricanes determined to even the score. The Rovers defended strongly but, just before the end of the first half, the opposition’s midfielder executed a perfect Cruyff-like turn on Diego. He pretended he was about to pass the ball forward but flicked it behind him instead. He swung round and, with a quick cross, belted the ball to the striker, who followed through with a perfect goal.
It was brilliant play. One that the Rovers had never expected.
Over a scramble for oranges and water, Coach Wallace began. ‘You played really well out there. I’m so proud of how you’re handling your game. The Hurricanes did slip us a surprise, which I have to say was one of their best yet. Play fair and well and be on the lookout for any more surprises.’
The second half started with the Rovers again taking quick possession but, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t seem to score. Both teams fought it out, using tricky dribbling, quick runs and good passing, until the opposition kicked the ball over the Rovers’ goal line.
This was the Rovers’ chance.
They were awarded a corner kick and, with less than thirty seconds to go, they knew it had to be good. And that Jasper was their man.
‘Why me?’
‘You’re the king of banana kicks from practising with your grandad.’ Diego’s hands landed on Jasper’s shoulders. ‘I’ve seen you. It’s freaky. It has to be you.’
There was no getting out of it. Jasper walked over to the corner and looked down at the ball. He stared nervously at the goal area. It was crowded with players and the Rovers were heavily marked. Noggin gave a signal that he’d be free if Jasper needed him, but his reputation was known and there were two markers on him.
Jasper took a deep breath. Maybe Diego was right. Maybe all the afternoons of bending Nannu’s kicks into the goal at home did make him the best choice.
Nannu also said that sometimes great soccer players, when they’re offered no other option, just had to take a shot.
‘Go the Rovers!’
Lil waved at him and held both fists in front of her chest. She mouthed the word ‘forza’. The Italian word for strength, Jasper remembered.
He smiled, turned towards the goal and steadied himself.
In his head the crowds chanted his name but, like all great soccer players, he blocked out everything except for the goal before him.
He balanced himself on his non-kicking foot and quietly whispered, ‘Forza.’
He then brought his foot swinging in. He struck the ball to the right side, belting it low and hard. It lifted into the air as his leg relaxed into a long follow-through. He watched as it curved towards the goal. The players in the goal area lifted their heads, watching the ball arc towards them. Noggin lined himself up and was ready.
But there was no need. The ball sailed in a perfect curve straight past the goalkeeper’s gloves into the back of the net.
Whole seconds went by and nobody moved or said a thing. The opposition frowned at each other as if trying to work out what had happened.
The Rovers threw themselves into the air and then all over Jasper. He was buried under the weight of his team’s delirium at having won the game. It was a perfect in-swinging corner and they let him know it. On the sidelines, Lil jumped up and down but this time her father couldn’t do anything to calm her down.
It took the ref two whole minutes to calm them down to play out the last few seconds of the game. Jasper was lifted from the ground by Mugger and Nutmeg. ‘Told you you were the one,’ Diego said, nudging into his shoulder.
JOHNNY SAYS:
Local soccer teams often use dances, card nights, talent shows or trivia nights as fundraisers. When I was a kid, my grandfather was an amateur magician, and he’d always do his magic show at the local soccer club. I was his assistant. I wasn’t very good – at the end of every trick, somehow I always managed to fumble the equipment and reveal the trick to the audience.
‘Don’t tell anyone I gave you this.’
Jasper reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a lamb chop. Ronaldinho let out an excited yelp before he took the chop and crept under a nearby bush.
It was the night of the club dance
. After days of Jasper’s home being taken over by hordes of parents cutting and gluing something Jasper wasn’t allowed to see, it was here. The local youth rock band, the Hairy Lizards, had been rehearsing, food warming trays had been booked and the mirror ball taken out of storage for a good shine and polish.
Jasper watched as Ronaldinho chewed on the chop while music and laughter spilled out from the hall nearby. The parents had booked the local footy club hall and even though there was a ‘no pets allowed’ rule, Jasper’s mum and dad let Ronaldinho come, as long as he stayed outside. ‘In a way you’re lucky you’re not allowed inside. At least that way you won’t have to dance.’
He winced as the band again went off-key. ‘Wish me luck.’
Jasper thought about last Saturday’s win and smiled. He’d been doing it all week. The only thing that could wipe it straight back off again was thinking about his nannu. Lil had recovered from her concussion, Jasper’s dad had his job back and the Rovers had played a brilliant game against the Hurricanes, but Nannu still hadn’t spoken to his dad since the night of the dinner.
Jasper stepped inside and grabbed a roast chicken leg from the food table. He bit into it and turned to look around the hall. It looked pretty good, except for one thing.
The surprise all the parents had planned. Life-sized cardboard cut-outs of the Rovers.
Jasper walked over to his cardboard self and stared closely. ‘You’re slightly freaky looking up close, you know that?’ he whispered to it.
‘Oh, I don’t think he’s so bad.’
Jasper didn’t have to turn around to know it was Lil.
‘My mouth hasn’t always been this useless.’ He gave her a smile.
‘I believe you,’ she said. ‘Not sure if the cardboard guy does, though.’
It seemed Jasper was going to have to get used to saying stupid things around Lil.
‘I know I look better in double,’ Tricky said, running his hand through his hair. ‘If you’re lucky, Lil, you might even be able to dance with one of us later.’
‘If she’s lucky the cardboard version will ask first,’ Josie laughed.
Mugger, Nutmeg and Noggin came over.
‘What do you think, Mugger? Is it the real you?’ Nutmeg asked.
The team watched Mugger stare at his own image. After a few seconds he stood back, his face a mirror image of the blank look on his cardboard double.
‘I think that means he likes it.’ Diego laughed.
‘Excuse me, everyone.’
The Hairy Lizards came to a squealing and jumbled stop as Coach Wallace grabbed the microphone and stood on stage in front of them.
‘Welcome, everyone, to our club dance fundraiser.’ The hall echoed with whistles and applause until Coach Wallace held his hands up to calm them down.
‘As you all know, the club has been struggling financially in recent times and I want to thank you for being here to show your support. It’s a tribute to all of you that we have a club we can be proud of, with fine and honourable players. To the Rovers!’
Everyone in the hall held up their glasses and cheered, ‘To the Rovers!’
Nippy and Lil cheered loudly and Jasper blushed, hoping the attention would go somewhere else.
‘Ah, my adoring public. It’s only right,’ Tricky sighed.
‘That’s enough. We don’t want them thinking they’re too good.’ Coach Wallace waited until the laughter died down. ‘Make sure you get your raffle tickets because we’ve got some great prizes, including a secret grand prize. But first, I’d like to introduce you to a newcomer to our community who’d like to say a few words. Mr Leo Spinelli.’
‘Dad?’ Lil almost choked on her juice.
Mr Spinelli straightened his tie and tapped the microphone a few times. ‘Good evening, everyone. Although my family and I have only been in the neighbourhood for a short time, it already feels like home.’
Mr Spinelli stopped talking and looked down at the floor. Lil thought he was going to cry.
‘He really is a softie,’ she whispered proudly.
It was a few seconds before he could start again.
‘As a thank you, Spinelli’s Computers would like to help out with the fundraising of the Rovers by donating the grand prize of a complete computer package.’
The room burst into applause.
‘There’s one more thing, and for that, I’d like the team to come up on stage.’
Tricky led the way while Jasper winced. Hadn’t they had enough attention for one night? Lil grabbed his arm and dragged him up. ‘This could be fun.’
Mr Spinelli continued as the Rovers formed an untidy line beside him. ‘My business has been looking for a worthwhile local group to sponsor and, after seeing the Rovers play like champions, we thought they should look like champions too.’
Mr Spinelli reached into a box and pulled out a shirt.
Jasper’s eyebrows raised into worming arches on his forehead. The shirts were brand new with white reflective numbers and letters proudly written across the front and back.
‘Now we can look like a real team,’ Angus said in awe.
Everyone in the audience whistled and cheered while Mr Spinelli handed the shirts to each of the Rovers. There was no tugging or pulling over their heads like the old ones – the shirts slipped on as if they’d been hand-made for each of them. For once, Tricky was speechless and Mugger had the beginnings of a small smile. When Lil received hers, she leapt up and kissed her dad on the cheek. ‘You’re the greatest.’
Mr Spinelli blinked and again had that just-about-to-cry look on his face. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the new look Rovers.’
The whole team faced the audience wearing their new shirts. Lil grabbed Jasper’s hand and lifted it into the air. The rest of the team followed, feeling like real champions.
There was one more thing Mr Spinelli wanted to say.
‘Sometimes you forget to look at the important things in life, but the Rovers and my little girl there have helped me remember.’ His voice softened. ‘I want to thank you all for taking us into your community and making us feel at home.’
Lil could see her mum in the audience wiping away tears. Jasper’s mum put her arm around her and she started to cry too. Mr Spinelli handed the stage back to the Hairy Lizards, who eventually all found the same note and started up the music.
JOHNNY SAYS:
Shooting is a learned skill, but it’s also tied in with confidence. Lots of players are too hesitant in trying for a goal, thinking they might be too far away or without a clear shot. But if you don’t take a shot, you’ll never score.
‘Is your grandad here?’ Lil flopped onto a chair next to Jasper. The Hairy Lizards were strumming and strutting like rock idols and, even though the drummer had bashed a hole right through one of his drums and the guitarist had broken a string, they had the whole hall up dancing.
‘Nah.’ He bit into one of Mrs Spinelli’s cannoli pastries.
‘Are you sure about that?’ Lil had this cheeky smile like she knew something Jasper didn’t. ‘Wait here.’
She ran over to the door and stepped outside. A few seconds later, she was standing with Nannu. Jasper stopped mid-bite and his stomach did a weird flip.
Lil held Nannu’s arm and led him over. ‘Look who I found,’ she said, acting out a fake surprise. ‘I’ll go and get you both a drink.’
She raced off in what Jasper suspected was another of her plans.
Jasper and his grandad stood together in silence watching the dancing, especially Jasper’s dad and his seemingly uncontrollable feet.
‘Your dad’s really got no rhythm.’
The two laughed as they saw Jasper’s dad once again step on his mum’s toes and bump into some of the other dancers.
‘Look, um, Jasper.’ Nannu stopped as if the next few words had caught in his throat. ‘What you said about soccer was right. It’s a noble game that is a lot like life and they both should be treated the same.’ He paused. ‘Your dad was right, too.
I should have listened to him instead of being worried about other things. Family is the most important thing a person has, and I forgot that for a while there. I wanted to say, well, to say …’
His grandad blinked a few times and took a deep breath.
‘It’s okay, Nannu. I know.’ Jasper smiled. ‘Me too.’
‘I brought you both up to stand up for what you believe in and you do that just perfectly. A little too perfectly, sometimes.’
Lil was suddenly standing beside them, her smile filled with what she knew was the success of her latest plan.
‘Good, now that’s done, would you like to dance, Mr Zammit?’
Jasper froze. Even though his nannu and nanna had been dancing champions, Nannu hadn’t danced since she’d died. Even when his mum and dad had parties at home, he’d always sit against a wall, tapping his toes, watching the others.
Nannu shook his head. ‘No thanks, Lil.’
‘But I’m no good at dancing and Jasper tells me you were a champion.’
When Lil wanted something, she had this look that was hard to say no to.
‘And anyway,’ she continued, ‘sometimes you just have to take a shot.’
Jasper tried to think of a way to make her drop it, until he noticed his nannu’s smile.
‘You don’t have to listen to everything I say, you know.’ He held out his arm. ‘Well, come on then, I can show you a few of my favourite turns.’
Jasper’s mouth fell open. No one had been able to get Nannu to dance for years.
Jasper’s grandad took Lil’s hand and she led him to the centre of the dance floor. Right next to Jasper’s mum and dad. Jasper’s dad stopped dancing, and for a few seconds neither of them said anything. Jasper saw his grandad speak, then his dad did. There was a short look between the two of them, before they both broke into a smile. Nannu then took Lil and, together, they took over the dance floor, with everyone gathering around them to watch.
Jasper’s mum excused herself from his dad, who went on dancing by himself. She sat down beside Jasper. ‘How did that happen?’
‘Lil.’ That seemed to explain everything.
Jasper Zammit Soccer Legend 1 Page 9
