Читать книгу Brilliant - Greg Pius - Страница 3

It was a time to learn how to survive at a professional level and prosper. Simon was young and did not have the body weight to stay firm when challenged. He had to hover wide of the goal where he often had little chance of scoring. So at the end of each training session, Simon spent an hour developing an explosive turn of speed. A professional sprinting coach happened to be at Sydney Olympic Park watched Simon repeatedly run short sprints. As she approached Simon, she realized how young he was. Walking right up to him and looking Simon in the eyes she said in a friendly tone of voice,

"Hello, I am Janet Zelma. I coach aspiring female sprinters trying out for Olympic selection. I saw you play last Sunday. Today I watched some of your sprinit training drills. Have you had Olympic sprinting training?"

Janet was the same age as Simon's sister. He replied in a friendly manner,

"Hi, I'm Simon. No my training is all for football. Last Sunday was my first professional game."

"And you scored your first professional goal. Very impressive." said Janet.

In a self depreciating tone Simon replied,

"I was lucky. The goal keeper came off his line. He did not respect the boot."

Confused Janet asked,

"Sorry football is not my specialty. What do you mean by the goal keeper not respecting the boot."

Simon replied softly,

"It is an ancient football saying. My father, my grandfather and my great grandfather played club football. They would take my father to games chanting, 'Respect the power of the boot.' It means the goal keeper should always watch the boots of the striker."

Janet said eagerly,

"Simon, I am also a talent scout for the Athletics Academy. You would be a very good Olympics' sprinter. Would you like to give another sport a go?"

In a firm voice Simon responded,

" No thanks. Football is my game. I owe it to my father to play for football and will devote all my energy to that goal."

Surprised at Simon's strong ambition, Janet asked,

"Isn't there room for both?"

In an even firmer voice Simon said,

"Perhaps, but I can't take any chances. Football is a forty week a year commitment. In the off season I have to work on my aerobic fitness. Sorry, but I don't have time for sprint training."

Janet knew she had lost the argument and said disappointingly,

"That's too bad Simon. I have rarely seen anyone run faster over ten metres. If I can help with your sprint drills please contact me at the Academy."

"Thanks Janet" smiled Simon, "I may take you up on that offer one day."