** THE LONG GAME**
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### **5:17 AM – Empty Pitch, Full Effort**
The morning dew soaked through Ibukun's socks as he stepped onto the training ground. His breath fogged in the Lagos dawn, the only sound the rhythmic *thump* of his personal ball against the cracked concrete wall.
Left foot control. Right foot pass. Repeat.
No System notifications. No shortcuts. Just the raw repetition that had defined his life since childhood.
Across the field, three other early risers worked in silence:
- **Dare (CB)** – At 19, already built like a tank, practicing aerial clearances with sandbags tied to his waist
- **Tolu (RW)** – Blistering speed, terrible weak foot, drilling left-footed crosses until his toes bled
- **Ade (CDM)** – Silent destroyer, timing tackles on a makeshift dummy
Coach Gideon's whistle cut through the mist.
**"Tolu! If your left foot was any worse, we'd have to amputate. Again."**
No special praise for Ibukun's dedication. No extra attention. Just the cold, equal-opportunity criticism that defined U20s football.
---
### **The System's Harsh Reality**
Post-training, Ibukun checked his stats with aching muscles:
***Current Attributes***
- Dribbling: B (82/100)
- Vision: C+ (76/100)
- Stamina: B (88/100)
- Aura: Lv.1 (35% effectiveness)
***System Shop***
1. **Precision First Touch** – 120 JP *(Locked: Requires Dribbling A-)*
2. **Clutch Finisher** – 85 JP *(Composure boost in key moments)*
3. **Recovery Protein Shake** – 25 JP *(30% less muscle fatigue)*
***Available JP: 53***
The System's voice dripped with its usual sarcasm:
*"At this rate, you'll hit A-tier dribbling by retirement age. Maybe try... I don't know... actually training?"*
Ibukun swiped the screen away. The message was clear – early rapid gains were over. Now every percentage point required sweat.
---
### **Match Day – U20 National Team Camp**
#### **Tactical Setup (4-2-3-1)**
**Starting XI:**
1. **GK – Nnamdi** *(Safe hands, terrible distribution)*
2. **RB – Femi** *(Athletic, positioning needs work)*
3. **CB – Dare** *(Leader, lacks pace)*
4. **CB – Ola** *(Aggressive, discipline issues)*
5. **LB – Yusuf** *(Offensive, defensive liability)*
6. **CDM – Ade** *(Human shield, limited passing)*
7. **CM – Obi** *(Box-to-box, zero creativity)*
8. **RW – Tolu** *(Pace merchant, poor decision-making)*
9. **CAM – Musa** *(Playmaker, avoids contact)*
10. **LW – Kola** *(Dribbler, selfish in final third)*
11. **ST – Bola** *(Target man, first touch issues)*
**Subs:**
- **Ibukun (LW/CAM)** *(Technical but inconsistent)*
- **Emeka (RB)** *(Defensive specialist)*
- **Chuks (CM)** *(Energy sub)*
Coach Bello's instructions were blunt:
**"Kano U20s press high. Obi – win your duels. Tolu – use your damn left foot. Subs, stay ready."**
No special mention of Ibukun. No promises.
---
### **The Grind**
**First Half:**
- Minute 23: Ibukun watches as Kola wastes another attack, trying to dribble past three defenders
- Minute 41: Musa gets bullied off the ball – again
**Second Half:**
- Minute 63: Coach finally points at Ibukun
*"You. Left wing. Don't disappoint."*
The moment his cleats touched grass, the System pinged:
***Mission: "Prove Your Worth"***
- *Complete 3 successful dribbles*
- *Reward: 15 JP*
No magic skills. No sudden upgrades. Just his current B-tier dribbling against tired defenders.
First touch – a simple control and pass back.
Second involvement – a failed dribble, earning a frustrated groan from the bench.
Then, minute 78:
A burst of speed. A quick feint. His first completed dribble. The crowd – all 200 of them – murmured.
Two more followed. Not spectacular. Not highlight-reel material. But effective.
***Mission Complete: +15 JP***
The System's commentary was telling:
*"Took you long enough. Now imagine if you'd actually trained that move."*
---
### **The Realization**
That night, staring at his ceiling, Ibukun understood:
1. **The System wasn't enough** – Early quick gains had plateaued
2. **Natural growth required real work** – No more free stat boosts
3. **Fame would come slowly** – These were U20 matches in half-empty stadiums
His phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number:
*"Saw your cameo. Keep working. – Scout E"*
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