Team Player

by Cindy Jefferies

  Saturday morning dawned. Jimmy and Marek were really envious of Roddy’s lunch invitation. In fact, everyone was. Roddy had tried to keep the outing quiet. He didn’t want to boast, but he had to phone his parents to make sure it was OK with them, and then ask their housemaster, Mr Clutterbuck, for permission to leave the school grounds for the afternoon, so it was inevitable that someone would find out. Sure enough, by Saturday almost everyone knew that Roddy and Geno were going out for lunch with the famous Italian international.

  “Ask him how we can turn things around,” Jimmy urged Roddy after breakfast.

  “Yes,” agreed Marek. “Tell him we need all the help we can get.”

  “I will,” Roddy assured them. “In fact, I’m sure we both will.”

  The morning seemed to crawl by, but eventually Roddy found himself with Geno, approaching the sleek black sports car that was sitting with its engine idling outside the main school building. Inside was one of his footballing heroes, the great Luca Perotti.

  7. Lunch with Luca

  Geno tipped the seat forward to let Roddy scramble inside before clicking it back to sit down himself.

  Mr Perotti turned and offered Roddy his hand. “Nice to meet you, Roddy,” he said. “Geno’s told me a lot about you.”

  “Brilliant to meet you, too, Mr Perotti,” said Roddy, trying to keep his voice casual as he shook the offered hand. He was so excited to meet the international star that he found it almost impossible to keep a constantly broad grin off his face.

  “Please, call me Luca. So, boys. What do you want to eat? I saw a little pizza place on the way here, how does that sound?”

  Geno glanced at Roddy, who nodded. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  The pizzeria wasn’t far away, and most of the journey was taken up with Geno and Luca catching up. Luca had been back in Italy, opening a football academy in Parma, and was telling stories about his old team-mates, who he’d met up with while he was in town.

  Roddy sank back into the soft leather seat and listened. He knew enough of the players Luca mentioned to be even more in awe of Geno’s dad than he had been before. This man knew everyone, and Roddy was sitting in the back of his car, being taken out to lunch. How cool was that?

  Soon they were sitting down in the restaurant, waiting for their pizza to arrive.

  “Of course, I left Parma just before the side got really successful,” said Luca, as the drinks arrived. “They got promoted a couple of years afterwards and filled the team with stars. Zola, Cannavaro, Stoichkov, Asprilla. It was all from milk money. The club was bought by a dairy and they pumped loads of cash into it. They won the UEFA Cup in ’97, but they could never hold onto players for long. They’re back in Serie B now, but they’ll be promoted again, I think. Hopefully with some young players from my academy, eh?”

  Just then, the pizza arrived, and conversation halted for a few minutes while everyone got stuck in.

  “So, why did you leave Parma?” asked Roddy between mouthfuls.

  “Oh, I just needed a new challenge,” said Luca. “I wanted to play for Italy, and without being at one of the top teams that was almost impossible. Parma offered to make me captain, but I was never really cut out to be a leader. Plus, Milan came knocking and it’s hard to say no. I always planned to go back, but the team got so good that they didn’t want a slow old striker with no knees. I came to England instead, and met Geno’s mother while I was playing for Queens Park Rangers, so I stayed in London with her and little Geno.” Luca put down his slice of pizza. “No, being captain never appealed to me. I hear you want to lead your team though, Roddy.”

  “Er … it would be nice,” Roddy said tentatively. “I mean, I was captain at my old school, and I did a good job, so I think I deserve a chance at least.”

  “At your old school, you were the best player by a mile, right?”

  Roddy nodded.

  “You being captain there would have been like me at Parma. You were captain at your last school because you were head and shoulders above the rest of the team. It was like a reward for being so brilliant. But at Stadium School it’s bound to be different. Being the best player won’t come into it.” Luca Perotti paused, to make sure Roddy understood what he was saying. “Some players have the ability to make their teammates into world-beaters,” he went on. “And they’re the natural captains. They don’t have to be the best player, because they can make every member of the team feel like the best player on the pitch, the best in the world.” Geno’s dad smiled encouragingly at Roddy. “Now, I don’t know if Keira can do that, or if you can, but if your coach thinks Keira is the best choice at the moment, then you have to go with it, and play your heart out for the captain and the team, even if privately you don’t agree with her decision.”

  Roddy opened his mouth to reply, but Geno beat him to it. “Things have moved on a bit since we last spoke,” he told his dad. “Roddy was the first person to get annoyed with Keira’s attitude, but we’re all feeling it now. She was a good captain, but the more we flounder, the more she tells us off, and that’s not helping the team. And my dry run isn’t helping, either,” he added miserably.

  Roddy remembered how worried his friend had been at not living up to his father’s reputation, and leapt to his defence. “Geno is a great striker,” he told Luca staunchly. “I’m sure his form would come back if Keira laid off us a bit. At the moment, she’s doing the opposite of pulling everyone together.”

  Luca looked thoughtful. “What does your coach say?” he wondered aloud.

  Roddy sighed. “I don’t think she realised we were in a bad way until we lost so heavily to Stiles last week.”

  “We don’t know if she’s spoken to Keira about it,” volunteered Geno. “But neither of them have said anything to us.”

  “Hmm.” Luca chewed on a piece of pizza while the boys waited anxiously for his next thought. “And you say Keira was a good captain until recently?”

  Roddy nodded. He didn’t want Luca to think he was after Keira’s place for totally selfish reasons. “I know I’ve always wanted to be captain,” he admitted slowly. “And maybe I haven’t helped the team recently by moaning about it, and hogging the ball a bit. But apart from that, I’ve been loyal all year.” He bit his lip. “Keira and I had a great partnership going on the pitch until she started sniping at everyone. What I really want is for Charlton to start winning again, whoever is captain.” He paused, and realised that what he was saying was absolutely true.

  Geno looked at his father. “I think maybe Keira has just got a bit carried away with being in charge,” he suggested.

  Luca smiled. “That wouldn’t be unknown,” he replied. “Power can go to your head if you’re not careful.”

  “I’m sure she’s not doing it on purpose,” said Roddy.

  “But it sounds as if she’s floundering a bit at the moment,” said Luca. “Just when you need a steady hand.”

  “That’s it, Dad. You’re right!” said Geno. “She’s run out of ideas. But what can we do about it?”

  “If you don’t feel you can speak to your captain, then you have to go to your coach,” said Luca. “But I’m not sure you are the best person to do that, Roddy, as you want to be captain.”

  “I can do it,” said Geno at once. “And I expect it would be better if there were several of us. It won’t be difficult to find people to go with me. The whole team is desperate to get things sorted before the match against Moore.”

  “Well done, son,” said Luca, looking at Geno proudly. “I would never have volunteered to do that sort of thing when I was your age. Maybe you’re captain material, too.”

  Geno blushed, and Roddy could tell that he was really pleased at his father’s praise. “All I want to do is score goals again,” he said.

  “And you will. Of course you will,” Luca assured him. “Like father, like son,” he added, and the two grinned at each other.

  After the meal was over, Luca dropped them back at Stadium School.

  “Tha
nks for lunch,” said Roddy. “It was brilliant.”

  “Don’t mention it,” replied Luca. “I was here anyway, for a meeting with the headmaster.”

  “What about?” asked Geno.

  “I can’t say,” said Luca, flashing a grin. “It’s a secret.”

  “Come on, Dad, you can tell me!” said Geno.

  “No, no. You’ll find out soon enough, both of you.”

  The boys exchanged glances. Luca seemed to be highly amused at keeping them in the dark, but as the car drew away, Roddy put it out of his mind. It was only a couple of weeks until the end of term and, with the showdown against Moore coming up on Wednesday, there was no time to waste. He and Geno had a team to fix.

  8. A Big Decision

  It was unknown for Roddy to stay out of the action when something was going on, but he knew Geno’s dad was right to tell him to keep out of it. It was important that Sam didn’t get the wrong idea. This was no witch hunt against Keira, but a genuine attempt by Geno and the others to try and put things right.

  Roddy was pretty sure that Jimmy and Marek would be in the common room, waiting to hear all about their time with Luca, but Geno wanted them to come with him to see Sam straight away, so Roddy made himself scarce. Instead, he grabbed his swimming trunks and went over to the pool. He spent the next hour trying to improve his crawl, while trying not to wonder how Geno was getting on.

  Eventually, Roddy started to get cold, and knew it was time to get out. Besides, if he didn’t hurry he’d miss tea. In spite of his big lunch, swimming had made him hungry again, so he got changed quickly and went over to the dining room. To his relief, Keira wasn’t there. Geno, Jimmy and Marek weren’t there, either, or Eboni and Ashanti Nagel. In fact, the only members of the Charlton team present were Stephen Mbeki and Jess.

  Roddy wondered if the missing players were all with Sam. She didn’t seem to be in the dining room, either. He considered what to do. He would rather not sit with Jess and Stephen just now. Jess was Keira’s best friend, and he felt awkward around her, but it would have looked odd if he didn’t, so he grabbed some food and went over to join them.

  “All right?” he said, trying not to spill his drink as he sat down.

  Jess gave him a look like thunder. “Where have you been?” she demanded. “Sam has been looking all over for you.”

  “Has she?” Roddy felt troubled. “I’ve been swimming. And before that I was with Geno and his dad.”

  “Oh yeah,” said Stephen. “How was that?”

  “Brilliant!” Roddy said. “Luca’s amazing. Really easy to talk to. We had a great time.”

  “It seems we’ve missed out on all the action,” said Stephen. “I’ve been out with my mum. Luckily, when I got back I met Jess, and she told me what’s been going on.”

  “Well, as much as I know,” said Jess. “Which isn’t much. It seems a load of the team went over to see Sam, and the next thing I knew, Keira was called in to see her. Keira and I had been practising passes, and had just arrived for tea when Eboni showed up. Sam was looking for you, too, but no one could find you.”

  “Well, here I am,” said Roddy uneasily. “I could go and see Sam now. Do you know what she wanted?”

  “Not really.” said Jess. “But I think it’s something to do with Keira.”

  “I hope Sam does something about her attitude,” said Stephen. “If our team carries on like it has been, it’s not going to be worth turning up for the final.”

  “It’s not Keira’s fault we’re playing so badly,” said Jess loyally, but she didn’t look totally convinced.

  “It’s always worth turning up for a match,” said Roddy gamely. He wolfed down his food as quickly as he could. “Where did you say Sam was, Jess?”

  “I didn’t,” said Jess dryly. “But she mentioned she’d be in the team-talk room.”

  “Do you think everyone’s still there?” asked Roddy.

  “Maybe,” replied Stephen. “I sort of assumed it would be just Keira and Sam, but none of the others have come back yet. Let’s go over and see.”

  “She only asked for Keira and Roddy,” objected Jess.

  “So?” said Stephen. “If the rest of the team is there, then we should be involved, too.”

  “Yes,” Roddy agreed. “You should. Come on, both of you.”

  “Sam can always tell us to go away,” Stephen pointed out.

  “And if we find the rest of the team, they can let us know what’s going on,” said Roddy.

  Closely followed by Jess and Stephen, Roddy jogged over to the team-talk room. No one spoke, and they all looked anxious. Everyone was hoping for a miracle before the final match on Wednesday. At the door, they hesitated for a moment, then Roddy turned the handle and went inside. He wasn’t sure what he would see, but he didn’t expect to find everyone grinning.

  “Here he is!” shouted Eboni.

  “Where have you been?” demanded Jimmy.

  Jess and Stephen hovered at the door, but Sam beckoned to them. “Come on in,” she said. “It’s great that the whole team is here at last.”

  “What’s been going on?” said Jess.

  “Loads!” said Keira.

  Roddy looked at her anxiously, but she seemed OK. In fact, she sounded positively happy. Roddy looked at Geno next, but he seemed all right, too, as did Sam. Roddy had been dreading seeing at least one or two long faces, but everyone appeared almost euphoric. He couldn’t work out what had happened at all.

  “Do you want to tell them, or shall I?” Sam asked Keira.

  “I will, if you like,” said Keira.

  “Go for it then,” said Sam, looking pleased. “Good for you.” She sat down and Keira got to her feet. Her expression was nervous, but very determined. She cleared her throat and looked around the room, her gaze resting at last on Roddy.

  “We’ve been struggling,” she began.

  “That’s a bit of an understatement,” muttered Ashanti, but a look from Keira silenced her.

  “And I want to apologise.”

  Roddy stared at her.

  “I know a load of what’s gone wrong with the team has been down to me,” she said. Several people murmured their disagreement but Keira shook her head. “No,” she said. “I got carried away with being in charge. Sam put me right this afternoon. I started bossing you about and telling you off, and none of you took it too well. Surprise, surprise.” She glanced at Roddy. “Maybe making me captain of the firsts and this team wasn’t for the best, but I’m not taking all the blame. Our team unity has been in tatters, and I think that’s been down to several things. I’ve been trying to sort it out,” she went on. “But I admit I’ve been at a bit of a loss. Recently, almost everything I’ve said has been misunderstood, or I’ve handled it badly.” She glanced at Sam, who smiled encouragingly at her. “The thing is, I don’t like to be beaten, but I forgot the golden rule – we’re a team. None of us should stand alone, on the pitch or off it, even the captain.

  “I should have gone to Sam when I couldn’t stop us falling apart. She’s there to help, but I didn’t ask her, even after she’d prompted me to when she’d heard us all arguing. It wasn’t until Geno and some others went to see her today, and she had a word with me, that I fully admitted to myself that I couldn’t sort it out.” There was dead silence in the team-talk room. Keira had their full attention. “Sam and I have had a good talk now, as most of you know, and I feel so much happier. Sam’s come to the decision that we need a new direction, and I’m backing her up. Everyone here agrees with it, so I hope you three will as well.” She looked at Roddy. “Especially you, Roddy.”

  Roddy felt bewildered. “I don’t know what I’m being asked to agree to,” he said awkwardly.

  Keira suddenly looked shy. “I want you to unite the team,” she told him. “Only you can do it now, Roddy. I’ve run out of ideas. I’d be very grateful,” she added. “We all would.”

  “But what can I do?” Roddy asked.

  Keira had taken something from her pocket.
She held it out to him. “Take this,” she said. “Please. I reckon I did well when everything was going OK, but now we need someone new. Come on, Roddy. For the good of the team.”

  She thrust something into his hand and everyone cheered. When Roddy looked down, he could see it was the captain’s armband.

  Roddy’s heart started thumping in his chest. This was it! He finally had what he’d dreamt about all along. But being captain was more than simply wearing the armband. Keira was right, it was up to him to unite the team.

  “OK,” he said, keeping his voice upbeat but serious. “Thanks, Keira. It must have been hard to say all that. And I reckon we ought to give her three cheers for being such a great captain for this long.”

  As the cheers rang out, Keira went pink with pleasure, and Sam gave Roddy an approving nod.

  If Roddy had thought it would be a tough job to unite the team, he was wrong. With a change of leadership, the mood lightened, and Keira seemed happier without the responsibility. Even so, Roddy was leaving nothing to chance. He pushed a couple of tables together and got the whole team eating every meal as a group. He also asked them to join him in the swimming pool on Monday after school.

  “What do you want us to do?” asked Jimmy once they were all there.

  “Have fun together.” Roddy pushed him, and he landed in the pool with a splash.

  “Great idea!” said Keira with a grin. She gave her captain an almighty shove and Roddy joined Jimmy in the water.

  “It’s lucky you didn’t fall on top of me,” said Jimmy, shaking water out of his hair.

  “Luck has nothing to do with it,” said Roddy with a grin. He ducked under and emerged a few yards away. “Remember how you were obsessed with that lucky sock in the first term? Thank goodness you’ve stopped being superstitious.”