The System Makes Me a Player

The Friday training, which was supposed to happen on Friday, Rafael decided to move it to Thursday, and when the session ended, he informed the players that he would reveal the lineup and the ones called up for the tournament on Friday. He explained that this was the reason for moving the training to Thursday. He also told them that after classes, everyone should go to Room 1-A, where he would soon arrive to speak with them.

Friday arrived. For Kelvin, the classes felt endless. Even though he already knew he was among the selected, he still didn't know if Rafael would place him as a left winger, like he had requested, or even if he would be among the starters. Even though his mind told him to stay calm, his heart kept racing.

When the bell rang, he didn't have to move — he was already in his classroom, 1-A. Slowly, the other players started to enter: Kazana, Dante, Danilo, Felipe, and the others. The atmosphere was tense and silent, and everyone cast curious glances toward Rafael, who hadn't arrived yet.

Minutes later, the door opened. Rafael entered with a sheet of paper in his hand and a serious expression. He leaned against the teacher's desk and looked at everyone present.

"Good afternoon, everyone", he said, his tone firm.

"As promised, I'm here to announce the official lineup for the field tournament that starts tomorrow, but first, here are the ones who will participate"

Silence took over the room. Kelvin felt his hands sweating.

"You all know how hard you've worked, how much you've dedicated yourselves", Rafael continued, his eyes moving from player to player.

"I took everything into account: training, attitude, growth, effort. And the final list reflects that"

He raised the paper and began to read.

"Goalkeepers: Murilo and Levi"

"Center-backs: Márcio, Lucas, and Victor"

"Full-backs: João Vitor, Danilo, Luan, and Gabriel"

"Midfielders: Ian, Dante, Rodrigo, and Matheus"

"Forwards: Felipe, Kelvin, Kazana, and Yuri"

"Those not on the list will not play. And now for the starters for tomorrow, along with the formation — we'll be playing a 4-3-3"

"Goalkeeper: Murilo"

"Defense: Márcio and Victor"

"Full-backs: João Vitor on the right, Danilo on the left"

"Midfield: Dante as the defensive midfielder, Ian and Rodrigo in more advanced roles"

"Attack: Felipe on the right wing, Kelvin on the left wing, and Kazana as center forward"

Kelvin felt his heart pound harder. He was among the starters. And, more importantly, Rafael had placed him exactly where he asked: left wing.

Rafael paused briefly and continued:

"Kelvin, you asked to play on the left wing, right", he said, looking directly at him.

Kelvin nodded, a bit surprised by the public mention.

"I just want to make it clear that this is a position that demands a lot physically", Rafael said, leaning slightly forward.

"You'll be running a lot, marking, tracking back when necessary. Expect fatigue, rough tackles, pressure. Are you ready for that"

"I am, coach"

Rafael then looked at everyone in the room.

"Tomorrow, you're going to represent this school", he began, voice steady.

"I know it's just the Regional Championship, but for many of you, this will be your first time on a real pitch. The coaching staff from some technical schools and youth academies will be watching. They won't talk to you, but they'll be there. So give it your all. Play with grit, but play smart. Focus is everything. And by the way, there will be a team from Fortaleza's capital playing — they're not from here, but they were invited", he said in a lower tone.

"And one more thing, everyone. The captain will be Kazana", said Rafael, slightly raising his chin toward the striker.

"He was the captain last year, and after seeing that he's still pushing himself and trying to improve, I decided to keep the armband with him"

Kazana simply nodded firmly, but Kelvin noticed a proud gleam in his eyes. No one objected — everyone knew he had the temperament and leadership for it.

Rafael stepped away from the desk and grabbed a large black bag from the corner of the room. It was neatly folded, and when he opened it, it revealed dozens of black jerseys with blue details.

"Now... I'm going to hand out the jerseys", Rafael announced, placing the bag on the desk.

"I know for some of you, this might just look like a piece of cloth, but I want you to see it as a symbol. Representing the school on the field is a responsibility. Be worthy of it"

He began calling names one by one. Murilo received number 1. João Vitor got 2. Danilo received 6. One by one, the names were called, with the players approaching to receive their shirts, eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and emotion.

"Ian... number 10"

The midfielder stood up calmly and walked over to the coach. He took the shirt, looked for a moment at the number on the back, then gave Rafael a slight nod. No words were needed.

"Dante... 8"

"Kazana... 9"

"Kelvin...", Rafael paused for a moment, holding the last of the shirts folded on the desk.

"Number 11 is yours"

Kelvin stood up, heart pounding in his chest. When he took the shirt in his hands, he felt something different. The fabric was light, breathable — yet it felt like it weighed tons. He slowly ran his fingers over the blue number on the back and, for a moment, saw himself on the pitch, hearing the crowd roar after a goal. The feeling was somewhat like what he experienced in the duo tournament, but now there were more people watching him play.

The sensation was indescribable. Even though he had already worn the uniform in the championship final, the feeling remained the same.

"I hope you all play in these shirts with passion tomorrow. If a little blood comes with it, that's okay too", Rafael joked, breaking the tense atmosphere and drawing some nervous laughter

Kazana looked at Kelvin and held out a fist.

"Welcome to the starting lineup, left winger"

Kelvin returned the gesture with a slight grin, already imagining what the next day's match would be like. The nerves were there, of course, but along with them came an excitement impossible to ignore. He wanted to show why he deserved that shirt.

"The bus will be here around 8 a.m., I expect everyone at school"

"And don't forget, bring cleats, shin guards, water bottles, and most importantly, keep your head in the game", Rafael added, rising from his chair.

The group remained silent for a few more seconds, as if absorbing the weight of the moment. This wasn't just another game — it was a real opportunity. For many of them, it was the first time playing for a larger audience, under the watchful eyes of potential scouts, and Kelvin knew this could be a turning point for some.

After the short meeting, the players began to leave the room, exchanging glances, handshakes, and a few friendly jabs.

Kelvin lingered for a moment. He sat at his desk, holding the number 11 jersey like it was a trophy.

Dante walked up, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"Ready for tomorrow, star boy", he asked, with that teasing tone Kelvin already knew well.

Kelvin looked at him, gave a small smile, and replied

"Ready to win"

The two walked out of the room together, and the school hallway seemed brighter than usual — maybe it wasn't the light, but the weight of what was to come.