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Chapter 329: First Training Session with the National Team I

As Jason approached, the assistant coach nudged Gernot Rohr, bringing his attention to Jason who was walking towards them.

“Gather around everybody,” Gernot Rohr said in a loud voice while clapping to call the attention of the players.

The Nigerian players who were focusing on their preparation for their match against Sierra Leone in the coming days looked over at their coach who was calling for their attention and their eyes fell on Jason who had arrived behind the head manager.

“I’m sure he doesn’t need an introduction as you’ve probably already heard his name at least once this year, but I will introduce him for formalities sake,”

” This here is a talented footballer like you all who has responded to the call from his home nation and is here to do his part in taking the Super Eagles to greater heights,” Gernot Rohr said, pulling Jason to his side.

” Please welcome him home… Bolu Jason everybody,” the head manager said boisterously and led the applause that followed.

The players and the training staff joined the applause and for a while, Jason faced a serenade of applauding hands.

Soon the applause died down, and Gernot Rohr continued,

“Uh, do you have anything to say to your teammates?” The head manager asked Jason.

Jason was a bit surprised to be thrust into the spotlight suddenly, but he maintained his composure and opened his mouth to say a few words.

“Uh, I’m honored to be here, wearing the Nigerian colors and I’m grateful for this chance,”

“… Despite not living here, this country and its people…except for a certain driver who went to a night party when he had a job to do… have a special place in my heart…” he continued, causing Gernot Rohr’s lips to twitch slightly, but Jason didn’t care as he hadn’t exactly promised to never talk about the matter.

“I’m happy to be here and will do my best for the team and our country,” Jason finished, earning him another round of applause.

Zaidu Sanusi was the first person to walk up to Jason after the speech and he fist-bumped Jason and welcomed him to the team.

“A few weeks ago, you said this to me, and now I’m saying it back,”

“Welcome to the team bro,” Zaidu said to Jason with a grin.

The players nearby also greeted Jason with nods, handshakes, and the like.

Finally, the captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa, and one of the main strikers, Victor Osimhen came over.

“Welcome to the team,” Ahmed Musa said as he stretched his hand out to the newest member of the team, but before Jason could take his hand, Osimhen threw a hand around his neck.

“All this one wey you dey shake everybody, na assists I want o(You can shake everyone all you want, I want assists instead),” Osimhen told Jason with a huge grin on his face.

“We’ll see,” Jason responded to Osimhen while also nodding to the team captain and taking his hand.

The welcoming efforts from the team continued for another few seconds before Gernot Rohr interrupted them.

“As heartwarming as this is, we need to continue preparing for our matches against Sierra Leone, and we will be starting with a quick scrimmage,” Gernot Rohr spoke as he collected a notepad from his assistant.

“There will be two teams for this training session. The first team will be playing in the 4-2-3-1 formation while the second team will be using the 4-3-3 attacking formation,”

“Apart from making you get used to the formation, this training session is majorly for you guys to build your chemistry with one another because no matter how good you are as an individual, you can’t win a match alone, and since you guys are all from different teams and leagues around the world, you need to work out for yourselves how you compliment each other,”

“I can do my part and make the best game plan tailored for you, but I can’t make you guys perform well with each other if you don’t try to understand each other,”

“With that in mind, I want you to play without any pressure and instead make understanding your fellow teammates as your priorities. Is that clear?” Gernot Rohr asked with a questioning look.

“Yes coach!” the boys in green responded enthusiastically, excited to test their mettle against one another because despite Gernot Rohr’s words to play without pressure, he would be watching them train and would not hesitate to make changes to the line-up if he saw one of the players performing better than others in his respective position.

“The first team will be called Team A… Once you hear your names, come and stand on my right,”

“For team A that will be playing the 4-2-3-1 formation, the goalkeeper will be Maduka Okoye, the two center-backs will be William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi, and the wing-backs will be Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina on the left and right respectively,” the head manager started calling out the players and putting them into their positions in their respective teams.

“The two defensive midfielders will be Joe Aribo and Etebo Oghenekaro and Alex Iwobi will be the attacking midfielder. Ahmed Musa will be on the right wing, Emmanuel Denis will be on the left, and Kelechi Ihenacho will be the main striker…” Gernot Rohr paused for a few seconds after calling out the players in Team A, waiting for them to walk out of the crowd of players and gather on his right side.

After the last player in Team A walked out, Gernot Rohr’s eyes once again fell on the notepad to continue,

“… For Team B, we have Stephen Nwabali in goal, Omeruo Kenneth and Balogun Leon as center backs, Ebuehi Tyronne as the right wing-back and Collins Jamilu as the left back,”

“In the midfield will be Shehu Abdullahi and Agu Mikel as center midfielders with Jason Bolu leading the midfield as a center attacking midfielder,”

“Upfront will be Moses Simon on the left, Chidera Ejuke on the right, and Victor Osimhen as the sole striker,” Gernot Rohr finally finished calling out the names of the players on Team B.

“those of you on team B, you will be wearing the bibs while the players whose names weren’t called will be substituted onto either of the two teams as we go.”