Football singularity

Chapter 773 Vossi Bob

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[2021-05-25 | Leverkusen Performance Centre , Leverkusen | 8:30 BST]

The performance centre’s gym was quieter than usual at this hour with just a handful of players who’d shown up early. They were the dedicated early birds who couldn’t sit still even during what was supposed to be a light week. In one corner, Rakim lay on his back on a yoga mat, one leg extended toward the ceiling, a resistance band looped around his foot as Simba guided him through a series of dynamic stretches.

"Hold it there," Simba instructed, his hand on Rakim’s raised ankle. "Feel the stretch in your hip flexor?"

"Yeah," Rakim grunted, trying not to wince as Simba applied gentle pressure, pushing the stretch deeper.

"Your hips are tight," Simba observed, releasing the pressure slightly. "All that sprinting, cutting, changing direction—it builds up. Although you have a surprisingly strong recovery ability and malleable lower body muscles, we need to keep working on mobility, or you’ll start compensating with your lower back."

"I know, I know," Rakim said. "I’ve been doing mobility stretches since I picked up a ball."

"That’s probably why you can do what you do and are less injury prone," Simba countered, switching to the other leg. "But we are working on building muscles to build on your explosiveness to avoid contact with defenders altogether, who are sure to be looking to punish you next season. So we need to adjust the cutting approach so you don’t build or lose them in the wrong places."

Rakim complied, raising his left leg. Nearby, Frimpong was doing box jumps, working with one of the club coaches, his explosive power on full display as he cleared increasingly higher platforms. Amiri worked through a set of Turkish get-ups with a kettlebell, moving slowly and deliberately through each phase.

"Yo, Rex!" Frimpong called out between jumps. "You coming to Ox & Klee when we get that team dinner?"

"If we actually get it," Rakim replied. "Bosz hasn’t agreed to anything yet. It would be nice to go before we leave for Porto, though, not sure if they will have us on a diet restriction three days early."

"He will," Frimpong said confidently, landing another jump. "We just won the Bundesliga. Man’s not going to say no to feeding us properly."

Simba released Rakim’s leg, letting him lower it slowly. "Sit up. We’re doing some hip circles next." Rakim sat up, positioning himself as Simba demonstrated the movement, performing controlled hip rotations through the full range of motion.

"So I’ve been thinking," Rakim said as he worked through the circles. "About getting a skills coach for the off-season to refine the on-ball skills to deal with muscle development."

Simba’s eyebrows rose. "You want to add more training?"

"Not really, but I figured it’s the best thing to do to reach that next level," Rakim clarified quickly. "But like, specialised sessions. Once or twice a week, just focused on the ball work and address any habits that I might be unconsciously doing, which could be bad down the road."

"Your technique is already elite," Simba pointed out.

"I think so too, I’m kinda blessed to grow up in the environment I did," Rakim bragged, stopping his hip rotation for a moment, only to receive a frown. "But I know I can be better and do much more, and if there is a possibility I can get help with that, it’s the best use of my money. I want to be able to finish from any angle, any position."

"Right now, now I’m too two-dimensional in my approach, either cut in or go for the cross, and if I get in the mood, I just let my body take over and dribble until an opportunity opens up." He continued trying to make his process clear. "Defenders who will go up against me will analyse this season and find their answers. I want all those countless hours of film room to have been a waste. Plus, I especially want to start using my left more, you know, it’s just as good as my right, but by the end of my boots’ life cycle, it’s less used up."

Simba couldn’t believe what he was hearing from the player who had turned the football world upside down. He was sure that if anyone overheard his words and saw his eager green eyes that looked ready to devour knowledge, they would punch him. He looked around just to be sure, and luckily, no one was nearby to get that urge.

"(Sigh) I’ll start putting feelers out," he finally said, knowing that his client’s mind was made up. "Now get back to work, we still have two more cycles to go through this morning."

~~~

[2021-05-25 | Leverkusen Performance Centre, Players lounge, Leverkusen | 10:30 CET]

Sitting in one of the sofas of the player lounge, Rakim can be seen devouring his breakfast. Scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, avocado toast, and a protein shake. Simba had worked him hard for the past two hours, and his body was demanding fuel.

Across from him, Frimpong scrolled through his phone while picking at a bowl of fruit. Amiri sat nearby, nursing a coffee and reading through what looked like the 48 Laws of Power. A few other arrivals were scattered around the lounge doing their own things or preparing breakfast in the kitchenette.

The atmosphere was relaxed, a common sight since they had secured the German trophies. The relaxed mood was suddenly disrupted by almost simultaneous notification buzzes. Not just once, multiple notifications sounded like rapid-fire, showing they all subscribe to the same thing.

Rakim set down his fork, wiping his hands on a napkin as he pulled out his phone. The screen was already lighting up with Twitter notifications, Instagram alerts, and text messages flooding in. Rakim stared at the screen, rereading the words carefully as a smile tugged at his lips.

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@kicker: BREAKING: 2020/21 Bundesliga Individual Awards

Torjägerkanone (Top Scorer): Rakim Rex - 42 goals

Player of the Season: Rakim Rex

Rookie of the Season: Erling Haaland

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"YO!" Frimpong’s voice cut through the quiet, loud and sharp with excitement. "REX! YOU DID THIS?"

The lounge erupted in joy as if they had won it themselves. "About time they made it official!" Diaby said from one end of the lounge, then whistled loudly. "42 goals, though I didn’t know you were balling this hard."

"(Tsk), My guy, I told you they make us different in Florida," Rakim said with a smile, shaking his shoulder before jumping up. "Hey GOOGLE play Vossi Bop!"

The lounge speaker churned to life immediately, the opening instrumental and opening bars of Vossi Bob resounding. Rakim immediately got up and started dancing with the rest of the players who joined in the celebration. The lounge was pure chaos now, the energy infectious, players on their feet, hitting their moves.

"I put in the work and take the profit, Lookin at my girl ’What a goddess’ (Thank God)" Phones came out, and social media was put to use as they all hit their moves.

"If can’t keep the deal, then just honest (be honest)—I could never die, I’m Chuck Norris (Chuck Norris)—Fuck the government and fuck Boris (Yeah)."

Bellarabi appeared from the hallway, drawn by the noise, took one look at the scene, and immediately pulled out his phone. "What’s happening?"

"Rex just won Player of the Season!" Amiri shouted over the music. "And top scorer!"

"About damn time!" Bellarabi laughed, joining the celebration.

The door swung open again—this time, Peter Bosz walked in with Fredrick Bauer and two of the fitness coaches. The music was still going, players still dancing, and for a moment, Bosz just stood there, taking in the chaos.

"Congratulations, Rakim," Bosz called out, his voice cutting through the music. The volume dropped immediately, and someone must have hit pause, as the lounge suddenly grew quiet except for heavy breathing and scattered laughter.

Rakim straightened up, slightly breathless. "Thank you, boss, are we going to Ox & Klee now?"

Bosz raised an eyebrow at the immediate pivot to food. "You just won Player of the Season, and your first thought is the restaurant?"

"I can always eat, boss," Rakim said with a grin. "Plus, you can’t win trophies on an empty stomach."

The room erupted in laughter as Bosz shook his head, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "We’ll discuss the team dinner later. Right now, congratulations are in order." He stepped forward, extending his hand. "Player of the Season and Top scorer at seventeen years old is a Remarkable achievement, Rakim."

Fredrick Bauer clapped his hands, getting everyone’s attention. "Historic season, lads, you have not only won all German trophies but now also picked up important personal honours. You all deserve a pat on the back for all your hard work."

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TO BE CONTINUED...