Lion Cup Championship
“Duncan! Duncan!””
“Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun!”
Screams filled the Titan University stadium. An exhilarated wave of home side students rising to their feet. If the past was anything to go by, this was it. This was them taking the inter-varsity cup. Duncan Lo was in possession of the ball and he had never disappointed them.
With just a minute left on the clock, Duncan knew that his next move would be a decider between a win and a tie. The latter was not acceptable in his books. Penalties were unpredictable.He could not afford even the slighted mistake. The 90 minutes game had come to this, the whole match had been too close for his liking. Suddenly all eyes were on him, every one of his teammates and university student’s hope on his shoulders. It would be too much pressure for most, but he thrived in these situations. Strong legs, flexibility and speed were his biggest assets. Sweat dripped down his brow as he charged forward. It was now or never. He could see the goal post a few meters away. A roulette past the defender and kicked…..Did he score?
“Ladies and gentlemen, with fifteen seconds left on the clock, it is the captain, DuncanLo,” one commentator shouted with excitement. He would on his feet like the students if it was not for the headphones with a very short cord, forcing him to remain seated.
“He is fit, extremely fast, just watch him go and he scores!” the second commentator shouted excitedly as the goalkeeper dived the opposite direction and the ball hit the net.
Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Duncan could hear his name shouted amongst the loud screams. Those were the moments he lived for. He did it. The sweet victory was theirs. He hit his chest with a victorious grin on his face while their opponents cursed under their breath. It was all screams on the Titan side as the teammates embraced each other.
“It is three points for Titan University and two for Frolik University,” the commentator shouted right before the whistle went off, signalling the end of the game.
“A close game, but the Titan’s take the Lion’s cup!”
“What a game! What a finish!Adrenaline-filled game with so much talent and close calls. The name on everyone’s lips today and this season is none other than the captain of the Titan’s, Duncan Lo. Only twenty-two years old, this young man never ceases to amaze me,” the commentator concluded the game just when the Titan’s defender held his chest and crouched down before falling.
“What just happened?”
“It looks like a heart attack,” someone in the crowd shouted as the Titan’s celebrations turned into horror.
“The Titan’s defender, Lando Smith has collapsed. The teammates are resuscitating him,” the commentator announced to the shocked fans.
“Paramedics!”
The paramedics had already packed up and started leaving the stadium when they heard cries for help.
“Oh my God! Is he…”
“Ladies and gentlemen, a sad turn of events. We have lost a promising young man. This is a big blow to the Titan’s, and national soccer fraternity. Lando Smith, only twenty-one-years-old. Condolences to his family, his friends and the team.May his soul rest in peace.”
The horrific expressions on the Titan’s faces as the forensic van arrived to take Lando’s body was haunting and heart breaking. An hour later, everyone else had gone, but they still sat on the field, staring into nothingness.
“It is time to go,” coach Drew told his distraught team as the rain started pouring down.
Two months later, at the Titan’s club house, coach Drew walked into the lounge to find the whole team eagerly waiting for him.
Lando’s jersey and portraits mounted all over their club house was not making the healing process any easier.
“Good morning, everyone. I know that it has been a hard two months. We are all still mourning Lando. I also know that you want to go back to the field.”
“Lando would want us to continue playing, coach,” Mathew stated, and the rest of the team nodded.
They felt that the healing process would be faster if they did what they loved the most, but the coach had suspended all their games and scheduled endless psychologists and medical check-ups for them instead.
“Yes. That is why I am here. You have all passed your physicals and drug screens,” the coach continued while they celebrated.
“Of course, Sir!” Steve shouted.
“Not so fast. Your cholesterol blood results are back,” he proceeded with a tone they could not quite read.
“That does not sound good,” Duncan concluded. Their coach was usually the care-free, all about jokes guy, but had been very reserved and too cautious since they lost Lando.
“Prince, five point nine,” the coach shouted out the results.
“Is that good or bad?”
“Mathew, six.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Leri, six point eight.”
“Yes!” Lerry shouted and proudly punched the air.
“Big H, seven.”
“Now we are talking,” Big H could not hide the grin on his face.
“Duncan, six.”
“Oh, we have a tie between Dun and Mat,” Steve pointed out.
“Dude, we could be twins. Are you sure the old man is yours?” Mathew asked Duncan while others burst out into laughter.
“Yep. Sure about yours?”
“Dude, look at me, I’m that man’s duplicate. I even inherited his bad habits,” Mathew responded proudly, leading to another bout of laughter in the house.
“We know what those are.”
“Promiscuity!” one shouted.
Mathew’s father was a known playboy who had divorced nine times.
The coach could only shake his head before giving all twenty teammates their results.
“A normal cholesterol is less than five. Higher than that means heart attacks, strokes and all sorts of medical issues. Lando’s cholesterol was seven.”
There was complete silence in the lounge. The mention of Lando had that impact on all of them.
“I guess I win,” Prince broke the silence with a melancholic voice while they sank back on their seats.
Knowing their coach, he would take that too serious and continue postponing their games.
“No one is winning here, Prince. Basically, you are all unhealthy time-ticking bombs. We are going to lose sponsors, and you are all going to lose your scholarships if you drop dead like flies. The team management, together with sports physicians have come up with mandatory recommendations.”
“I am even scared to hear it,” Duncan lamented, already imagining the worst.
“No more fast foods, booze and whatever you have been ingesting. No more eating from the cafeteria or anywhere for that matter. The house is getting a full-time dietician. Her name is Lisa Neil. She will tell the cook what to make. You will eat what she recommends from now on.”
They all looked at the coach as if he had grown horns. They loved their food, not to mention the exorbitant parties they threw on a weekly basis.
“But coach…”
“But nothing.”
“You can’t expect us to eat like rabbits now,” Big H objected.
“I don’t care if it is rabbit or cows’ food. If Miss Neil recommends it, that is what you will eat.”
“Damn!” Duncan exclaimed the moment the coach left the lounge.
Two days later, the team secretly met after school. Miss Neil was exactly what they feared. All leafy inedible food was their breakfast, lunch and supper.
“It seems to me that we have a Miss Neil problem,” Mathew started.
“I say we get rid of her. Anyone in?” Prince added.
“Yep, just keep the captain out,” Big H added. “The coach will make him take the fall for this.”
They all nodded in agreement.
“We do it this weekend when he is away then?” Mathew suggested
“Sounds like a plan.”
