My Goalkeeping System

The player of the week award was an award given to the player who had the best performance from the teams who played their fixtures that week.

Seven players were nominated for the award then there would be a classified way of choosing who was going to get the award.

It wasn't that much of a big award when compared to the player of the month and player of the season awards but to the goalkeeper, it was quite a big award that he would really appreciate if he ever wins it.

"I was nominated for the player of the week award," Dave muttered as he still couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, bro," Mateo said with a nod.

The youngster was also nominated but for him, it wasn't really something to be excited about as he had already been nominated fifteen times this season including this current one. For Dave this was the first time since his career so why wouldn't he be excited?

<If you're looking for a sign that says you're improving, here's one>

"The nomination is good for the boost of motivation but Roland is probably going to win it like he has done during most of the weeks he has gotten nominated in the season so far," Mateo said.

"I didn't watch any of the matches to know how the players performed but I think any of you guys have a good chance of winning it," Dave said.

"Huh?"

"I mean you, Ferran, and Roland, you guys have been awesome, especially Roland," Dave said.

"Yeah, the kid's been awesome lately."

"Kid? He's the same age as you." Dave said with a little chuckle.

"I'm two months older than him."

"Just two months."

"Yeah, two months, that's a lot of days that I was already in the world before he came in." Mateo asserted.

The two quickly turned their gaze back to the television as Michael seemed to have said something that caught their attention.

"Yeah, the match seemed really boring in the first half with Litno FC being the only ones really trying to do something but with the introduction of players like Mateo, Merino, Ferran, and Roland in the second half, the match turned into quite a heated battle," Michael said. "Zen was easily getting through on that left wing but as soon as Roland got in that position, the youngster shut him out to the extent that he had to start crossing balls into the box from far out."

"Yeah, and that last goal from him in the last minute was something else." The female in the room said.

"I'm glad he scored that goal, I'm glad he got us that equalizer," Mateo said.

"That match could have ended in a better way for us if coach had been more reasonable in choosing his starting lineup," Dave said.

"I think coach knows what he's doing," Mateo said. "Carlos is going to be out for two weeks with a muscle injury, that's what he has been trying but I guess it had to happen to someone at some point."

"I know but he should have at least started you in this match given the fact that you didn't start the last match," Dave said.

"Yeah," Mateo said.

"If something like this happens in our next match against Spree City, I don't think there's going to be any comeback for us."

"Yeah," Mateo said.

"Michael, what's your take on Dave Richards' last week performances, do you think he is starting to become something of a goalkeeper?" Jonah asked.

<Something of a goalkeeper>

"Well, Dave Richard's performance has been quite terrible starting from last season when he became Unique FC's first-choice goalkeeper and during that first season as the first-choice goalkeeper, there wasn't really a time that he performed like this back-to-back," Michael said. "I think he is starting to build a form that he's never really had, his performances during last week's matches were phenomenal. I have to give him credit, he was phenomenal compared to how he had performed before then."

Dave found the way Michael was talking about him to be quite engrossing to the extent that he couldn't keep his gaze off the television until someone had come downstairs.

"Mateo?" Emma said just before she stepped on the last step of the staircase.

"Hi, sis," Mateo said, waving at her.

"What's with the frequent visits, did mom tell you to start monitoring me when you're not playing a match or training?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"No, why would mom tell me to do that, and even if she does why would I do it?" Mateo said with an appalled look on his face. "I just came to see Dave and also drop some very exciting information for him."

"What information?"

"He's nominated for the player of the week award," Mateo said.

"Oh," Emma said.

The embarrassment of what she had said to her brother was beginning to hit her now but she was going to try and cover it up with a smile.

_______ ______

Mateo had spent a few more hours with Dave, the two had even trained together in the gym garage before he had left to go get ready for the family dinner tonight.

The clock on the wall was showing 6:00 PM as Emma was standing close to the door with her hands on her waist and her gaze on the staircase.

She was putting on a long and stylish black dress which had a silver flower on the side as a special design and to go with her attire, she had on a pair of silver-colored heels.

"Dave, hurry, we're already running late!" She yelled.

There was no response from Dave for about twenty seconds until he began to make his way down the stairs.

"I'm coming."

"Woah." Those were the first words that came out of Emma's mouth as soon as he stopped in front of her. "I've never seen you put on a tuxedo before." She said moving closer to him.

The goalkeeper was putting on a nice-looking black tuxedo with a black bow tie.

"Well, the last time I put this on was six months ago when I had to go to an award ceremony so, you're not mistaken," Dave said.

"It looks really nice on you." She said before adjusting his bow tie and kissing him. "You should put it on more often."

"You think?"

"Yeah." She said with a nod before turning to face the door. "I'll be outside."

Dave stood there for quite a while after she had left before he walked to the table and picked up his car keys.

His legs felt heavy as he walked toward the door but he knew this was for the best so he had to go no matter what.

He managed to make it to the door and just before he opened it, he let out a deep sigh.

<The moment I've been waiting for>

"Here we go again." He said before stepping outside and slowly closing the door.

If there was a way that he could prevent this family dinner from happening tonight, he would gladly take it because just thinking about it was draining his energy.

<Not your physical energy though, it's still filled up to the max>

'I am aware of that, Catherine.' He grumbled inwardly before he began to make his way toward his car where Emma would definitely be waiting for him.

****

Hope you enjoyed the chapter?

If I get up to a hundred golden tickets before the end of the month I will release six chapters on the first of December.