THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

Thirty minutes later, Kasongo arrived together with the Otterson brothers. Zachary was surprised as they came carrying a lot of snacks, including Pizzas and pre-packaged juice bottles. It was as if they were heading for a party.

"What's with all the food?" He asked.

"We figured that you might be hungry, especially after exerting yourself during yesterday's game," Kasongo replied with a grin while taking off his jacket by the door. "So, we decided to bring over some take-away. Moreover, what kind of visitors would we be if we came to your place without bearing gifts?"

"But I already ate breakfast."

"No worries," Kasongo replied, waving his arm dismissively. "We can eat the Pizzas at lunch."

Zachary could only shake his head as he glanced at his countrymate. Kasongo had grown taller over the years. He was already about five feet eight. But what always surprised Zachary was his uncanny resemblance to Raheem Sterling, the future Manchester City winger. Be it the sideburns, the skin shade, and the small face — they were all like a copy of the English forward.

"Say, Kasongo," Zachary could not help but inquire after a moment. "Could you be a long-lost brother to Raheem Sterling, the Liverpool player?"

Both Paul and Kendrick Otterson chuckled on hearing the question. The brothers had also grown up over the years. They were already almost as tall as Zachary and exuded an air of maturity.

"That was a good one," Paul Otterson said as he bumped fists with Zachary in greeting. "We were also wondering whether he was in some way related to that Liverpool youngster. Anyways, how have you been, Zachary? It has been a long time since the three of us got together. You really chucked us when you made it big as a pro."

"That's not the case," Zachary hurriedly explained. "You should understand that I spend most of my time training to better myself. So, I hardly get time for anything else. Moreover, didn't you three also abandon me when I left Moholt? You clearly knew where my apartment was, but you couldn't even drop by once in a while for a visit!"

"Don't mind Paul's words," Kendrick hurriedly chipped in while patting Zachary's shoulder. "We were also trying our best to graduate from the academy and then, later on, to make it into the senior squad. So, we also couldn't find time to hang out."

"That put's my heart at ease," Zachary said with a grin. He also settled in one of the sofas in the living room before continuing. "It's great that you guys have made it into the senior squad. How's everything? Are you coping well?"

"Well," Kendrick Otterson said with a sigh. "Everything is going on okay. But we're still not satisfied with our progress over the years. I'm already 20-years-of-age, while both Kasongo and Paul are already nineteen. However, we still haven't managed to cement our positions as part of the Rosenborg squad. It's really frustrating."

"Take it slow," Zachary said. "Just set a few achievable training goals, and do your best to meet them on a daily basis. With your talent, you should be able to cement your place in Rosenborg's starting line-up within two years at most."

"But that's still too slow!" That time around, it was Kasongo who chimed in. "You're also the same age as us, but you're already the team's superstar. Seeing you on the pitch makes us yearn for more, especially since we were together in the academy."

"Well, my circumstances are different," Zachary said, thinking about his system. "Moreover, have you forgotten that comparing yourself to another is not always good? Just focus on yourself. Set some goals. Try to be better than the person you were yesterday. If you do that on a daily basis, you'll surely improve in whatever you do."

"That's some good advice, Zachary," Kendrick said with a sigh. "But we still believe that we're not doing our best to realize our full potential. Look at Kasongo. When he started training more seriously, he made the match squad yesterday. So, we believe that we can achieve greater goals as long as we practice much more arduously."

"That's true," Zachary concurred. "Hard work during training always pays off on the pitch. But you can't train aimlessly and unsystematically. You've got to realize your shortcomings first—before working on them on the training ground. For instance, if your balance and coordination or passing attributes are below par, you undergo targeted training to improve those aspects of your game. That's the way of true professionals."

"You're right, Zachary." Kendrick nodded. "And that's the reason we've come to you. Could you point us in the right direction on how to train like pros in the future? Any pointers from you could help us a lot as we work on our techniques."

"Oh!" Zachary said, taking some time to organize his thoughts. "At this stage of your careers, it is crucial to solidify your basics first. You've got to perfect your techniques, including ball control, passing, and shooting to the best of your ability. As long as your basics are solid, you'll have a high chance of being named on the match squad."

"Additionally, you've got to work on your fitness day in day out to ensure that you are always in great shape. As long as you are fit, football becomes very easy as you can do plenty of things on the ball without panicking. You can dribble without much effort, take great shots, or even win one-on-one duels if you're in tip-top shape. So, fitness is a very crucial factor for a pro footballer."

"Lastly, I would recommend hiring a professional fitness trainer," Zachary continued. "With a fitness trainer, you'll be able to set achievable training goals and work on them under professional guidance. For instance, if you need to build some muscle, like in the case of Kasongo, the fitness trainer will help you out greatly. The same goes for Paul, who needs to work on his stamina."

"Oh, okay," Otterson hurriedly inquired. "Is there any fitness trainer you can recommend?"

"I can recommend my fitness trainer, Bjørn Peters," Zachary replied. "You should be able to remember him. He was the assistant coach of our academy team."

"Oh! I know Coach Bjorn Peters," Paul Otterson chimed in. "He was the muscular guy who always helped out Coach Johansen in the academy. But I didn't know that he was a fitness trainer."

"Well, he's one of the best fitness trainers in Norway," Zachary said with a smile. "If you happen to work with him just for a year, you'll surely achieve great things. I'll be meeting him in the afternoon. If you're interested, I can ask him to take some time out of his schedule to meet you."

"Of course, we're interested," Kasongo said. "As long as he can help us improve, then there's no reason for us to refuse."

Zachary chuckled. "I'll arrange the meeting time today. However, his fees are a bit high. He might charge you about 6,000 NOK per month just to work with you three times a week."

"That's not a problem," Kendrick said with a grin. "After signing official contracts with Rosenborg, we all earn more than 50,000 NOK per month. So, we can afford the 6,000 NOK for a fitness trainer."

"Then, that's awesome," Zachary intoned. "I'll arrange the meeting today. Just wait for my call."

"Okay, Zach," Paul Otterson said. "We'll eagerly await your news. By the way, Zachary. There's a rumor on some popular sports blogs that you have signed a deal with Nike. Is it true?"

"Yes, it's true," Zachary replied, feeling a bit surprised by the resourcefulness of the media people. "I signed an endorsement contract with Nike just last week. But the Nike representatives are yet to make any announcements. So, I'm wondering how the media learned about the deal."

"Don't underestimate the capabilities of journalists," Paul Otterson said with a sigh. "As long as something happens, they'll surely know about it. But that aside, you should be a rich man at the moment. Isn't that right?"

"Not at all," Zachary said. "I haven't received any payments from Nike as of yet."

"Just don't forget to take us out for celebrations after receiving your first payment," Kasongo chimed in. "We need to celebrate such events to relax our minds."

"Kasongo, why are you always thinking of parties?" Zachary queried. "Can't you think of something else?"

"Don't worry," Kasongo hurriedly replied. "I was only joking with you. But seriously, Zachary! You need to take a few days off from training to relax. You don't have to do it regularly. Even once or twice a month is enough. It won't even affect your long-term training plans."

"I do sometimes take time off," Zachary replied, his tone defensive. "For instance, I was on holiday in Barcelona with my girlfriend during the offseason. Don't you think that that's enough relaxation time?"

"Oh!" Kasongo said, his tone self-effacing. "I forgot that you're now like a married man. You go on vacation, and you don't even call us! Is it because we don't have girlfriends of our own?"

"You are as funny as ever, Kasongo," Zachary said, shaking his head. "But don't worry. If I organize something else, I'll call you, guys."

Kasongo grinned from ear to ear on hearing the promise. "You said it yourself, Zachary. We shall be eagerly waiting for your call during the next few weeks. Don't you forget!"

Zachary chuckled. "By the way, have you guys eaten breakfast yet? Or, should I offer you some breakfast?"

"We have already eaten." That time around, it was Kendrick who replied. "Just give us some juice. It'll be enough."

"Okay."

**** ****