Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King

The next day, Benjamin woke up with the same sense of purpose. The disappointment from the previous night had been pushed to the back of his mind. He knew what he had to do now.

The scouting match in two months was his chance, his opportunity to show everyone that he was still the talented player they once knew, and maybe even more. He wouldn't waste a second feeling sorry for himself.

His daily routine had become a source of comfort in this turbulent time.

After a light breakfast, he started with a slow jog. He kept the pace steady, careful not to overdo it. His left leg was still healing, but each step felt a little smoother than the day before.

It wasn't just about the physical progress anymore. It was about keeping his mind focused, about proving to himself that he could overcome this.

Once his jog was over, Benjamin went through a series of yoga poses. The stretches loosened his muscles, calming the tension that built up in his body.

Yoga had already become a habit for him, something he looked forward to every day. It wasn't just about recovery anymore, it was about mental strength.

After yoga, he spent some time with the ball in his backyard. His dad's small training area had become his sanctuary. Even though he couldn't go full throttle with his left foot yet, Benjamin was determined to keep his touch sharp.

He dribbled lightly, practicing control and precision with his right foot. He'd become much better at using his right foot after practicing continuously. His left leg still felt stiff, but he could feel the strength slowly returning.

A week passed, each day following a similar pattern, jogging, stretching, and ball work.

Benjamin was in a better frame of mind now, the hope of the scouting match in two months giving him the motivation he needed to keep pushing through.

One morning, Coach Jansen called with news. "Benjamin, it's time to get those leg braces removed," he said over the phone. "I've spoken with the doctor, and they're ready for you."

Benjamin felt a surge of excitement. It had been months since he first had the braces put on, and now the day had finally come to get rid of them. It was a major step forward in his recovery, and he couldn't wait to walk without the clunky support on his leg.

Coach Jansen picked him up in his car, as Benjamin was still too young to drive.

At seventeen, he had his learner's permit but hadn't taken the test to get his license yet. Driving his dad's car wasn't an option, not until he was fully healed.

The ride to Spaarne Gasthuis hospital was quiet. Benjamin stared out the window, his mind racing with thoughts of what it would feel like to have the braces removed.

Would his leg feel normal again? Would he be able to run without any pain?

He wanted to believe that once the braces came off, everything would go back to how it was before or even better. But deep down, he knew that recovery wasn't that simple.

At the hospital, the doctor, an older man with graying hair and a serious expression greeted them warmly, motioning Benjamin into an examination room.

The process of removing the braces was quick, but the feeling of having his leg free again was indescribable. He flexed his knee slowly, testing the movement. It felt a little stiff, but the pain was minimal. It was progress.

"How does it feel?" the doctor asked, watching Benjamin's movements closely.

"Better," Benjamin said, a smile creeping onto his face. "Feels good to finally have them off."

The doctor nodded but looked serious. "That's great to hear, but I need to speak to Coach Jansen for a moment. Benjamin, would you mind waiting outside?"

Benjamin's excitement dimmed a little, but he nodded and stepped out of the room.

He knew doctors liked to be cautious, but a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that something might be wrong. He tried not to think about it too much, distracting himself by walking through the hallway.

As the door clicked shut behind Benjamin, the room grew quiet.

Coach Jansen shifted in his seat, sensing there was something serious the doctor needed to discuss. He watched as the doctor sat down across from him, flipping through Benjamin's medical file.

"I'm glad Benjamin is healing well," the doctor began in a calm tone. "He's made good progress since the injury, but there's something we need to discuss regarding his left leg."

Coach Jansen leaned forward slightly, his focus sharpening. He had been relieved to see Benjamin walking without the braces, but the doctor's serious demeanor suggested there was more to the story.

"The thing is," the doctor continued, "while his leg is recovering well, there is still a chance...about a 10% chance that the injury could reoccur. This is not uncommon with a Tibial Plateau Fracture, especially for athletes who put a lot of strain on their legs."

Coach Jansen felt a knot form in his stomach. A 10% chance. That was small, but for someone like Benjamin, who had his entire future resting on his ability to play football, even a slight risk could be devastating.

"Is there anything we can do to lower that risk or even stop it completely?" Coach Jansen asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

He had seen many promising young players lose their dreams to injury, and he didn't want Benjamin to become another casualty.

The doctor nodded, but his expression remained serious. "We can reduce the risk further and even a slight chance to cure it with surgery. It's not a guaranteed solution, but it would strengthen the bone and provide more stability to the knee."

"Without surgery, we're managing the recovery conservatively, which is fine for everyday activities. But for high-level sports... well, the strain could be too much over time."

Coach Jansen sat back in his chair, absorbing the weight of the words. Surgery. That meant more time, more recovery, and more importantly, more money.

The Haarlem Youth Academy wasn't a big club academy. Their resources were limited, and while they cared about their players, the directors would be reluctant to invest in an expensive surgery unless they were sure it would pay off in the long run.

He tried to picture how that conversation would go with the academy's board members. He could already hear them: "A 10% risk isn't that high. Let's wait and see."

But Coach Jansen knew that waiting could mean the worst-case scenario, a reoccurring injury that could end Benjamin's career before it even started.

His mind raced. What could he do? He couldn't force the academy to pay for the surgery. Benjamin's wasn't left with much wealth enough to cover the costs either.

The boy's parents had done their best to support Benjamin's football dreams before their death. Surgery wasn't something Benjamin could afford.

"How urgent is this surgery?" Coach Jansen asked, trying to buy time.

The doctor shook his head. "It's not something that needs to be done right away. Benjamin can continue his recovery and training, but if he plans to pursue football at a high level, it's something we'll have to seriously consider sooner rather than later. Without the surgery, the risk is there. He could reinjure the leg during training or a game, and that could complicate things further."

Coach Jansen nodded, but inside, he was filled with concern. He didn't want to see Benjamin go through another setback, especially not after how hard the boy had worked to get to this point.

But the reality was harsh. The surgery was an expensive gamble, and the academy directors weren't likely to take that risk for a player who wasn't guaranteed to bring them much return.

"Thank you, Doctor," Coach Jansen said, standing up to shake the man's hand. "I appreciate your honesty. I'll talk to Benjamin about this, and we'll make sure he understands what's at stake."

The doctor smiled sympathetically. "Benjamin has great potential, Coach. With the right care, he can still have a bright future in football. Just make sure he takes it easy for now and avoids putting too much strain on that leg."

As Coach Jansen walked out of the office, his thoughts were a mess.

The car ride back with Benjamin would be difficult. He wasn't going to tell the boy about the surgery just yet, there was no point in worrying him about something they might not even be able to do.

For now, Benjamin needed to focus on his recovery, training and the upcoming scouting match. But in the back of Coach Jansen's mind, the weight of the decision hung over him.

'The Haarlem Youth Academy's directors won't agree to pay for the surgery,' he thought grimly as he made his way down the hall. I can only hope the worst doesn't happen.'

***

Meanwhile, as Benjamin wandered around, he bumped into nurse Diane who had taken care of him during his early recovery.

"Benjamin!" she exclaimed, her beautiful face lighting up when she saw him. "Look at you, walking without those braces. How does it feel?"

Benjamin grinned. He'd only just noticed that Daine was quite the beauty. "It feels great. It's weird not having them on, but I'm glad to be rid of them."

Diane smiled warmly. "I'm happy to hear that. You've come a long way since you first came here. How's the rest of the recovery going?"

"Slow but steady," Benjamin replied. "I'm still working on getting my full strength back, but it's going well."

"That's good to hear. Just keep taking it easy, okay? Don't push yourself too hard."

Benjamin nodded, appreciating her concern. "I'm trying. It's hard sometimes, but I'm focused. I've got a big match coming up in a couple of months, a scouting match, actually. A chance to show some scouts what I can do."

Diane's eyes widened. "That's amazing, Benjamin! I'll definitely keep an eye out for that. Maybe if I'm free, I'll come watch you play."

Benjamin chuckled. "You should. It's going to be a big moment for me."

They talked for a few more minutes and exchanged contacts. Diane had always been kind to him, and it felt good to catch up.

Just as they were about to wrap up the conversation, Benjamin spotted Coach Jansen walking down the hallway toward them.

"I'd better get going," Benjamin said quickly. "It was nice talking to you, Diane."

"You too, Benjamin," she replied. "Good luck with everything."

Benjamin waved as he turned to meet Coach Jansen. The coach's face was neutral, but Benjamin could tell something was on his mind.

"Everything okay?" Benjamin asked as they walked back toward the car.

"Yeah," Coach Jansen said, though his tone wasn't as confident as usual. "The doctor just gave me some advice about your leg. Nothing to worry about, though. Let's get you home."

Benjamin wanted to press him further, but he decided against it.

He trusted Coach Jansen, and if there was something serious, he was sure the coach would tell him. For now, all he could do was focus on his recovery and get ready for the scouting match.

As they drove back home, Benjamin's mind was already racing with thoughts of the next two months.

He had made it through one of the toughest challenges of his life, and now, with his leg braces gone, he was one step closer to reclaiming his future on the pitch

The match would be his chance to prove everyone wrong, and he wasn't going to waste it.