By the time Kevin reached thirteen, he had already established himself as one of Gent's brightest prospects. Coaches praised his intelligence, vision, and ability to read the game. His quiet nature, however, made it difficult for him to bond with peers. Because his parents lived far from Gent, the club arranged for him to stay with a foster family during the week. The household was unfamiliar and demanding. Kevin was polite, respectful, and attentive, but his reserved nature was misunderstood.
The foster family eventually rejected him, saying that he was too serious, too quiet, and difficult to manage. The rejection struck Kevin harder than any missed pass or lost match. He returned home, bewildered, frustrated, and heartbroken. For the first time, he cried alone, allowing himself to feel the depth of disappointment and loneliness. In interviews later in life, he would reflect on this period as one of the few moments when he felt truly rejected, yet it became a defining turning point. He resolved that he would succeed so completely that no one could ever doubt or dismiss him again. The pain became fuel, shaping his mental toughness and determination.
Simultaneously, his football training intensified. His body was changing, growth spurts made coordination awkward, and coaches urged him to develop more physical strength. Kevin approached each challenge with patience, understanding that his intelligence and vision on the pitch were his most powerful tools. He became meticulous about his preparation, studying matches, planning movements, and repeating drills long after teammates had gone home. One evening, after a frustrating game, the assistant coach told him that sometimes players must act with their hearts as well as their heads. Kevin looked up calmly and replied that his head was already his heart. That focus, determination, and balance of intellect and emotion would define his career.
Outside the pitch, Kevin remained introspective. He had few friends but observed the world with quiet intensity. He recorded thoughts, reflections, and tactical insights in his notebook. He sketched diagrams of runs, passes, and positioning, creating a personal manual of football intelligence. He analyzed professional matches, comparing movement patterns and imagining how he would act in similar situations. Each day, he refined not only his skills but also his understanding of the game as a whole.
Despite the challenges of rejection and adolescence, Kevin's passion never wavered. He developed resilience, independence, and patience. He learned to focus inward, to transform disappointment into determination. The experiences of loneliness and rejection became a crucible, forging a mental strength as vital as his physical ability. Every ball touched, every diagram drawn, every solo practice contributed to the making of a player who would one day shape the game at the highest level.