As the senior players trudged off, I called out. "Nya, Eze, Connor, Aaron! A word."
The four of them jogged over, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and nervous energy. They stood before me, four young men on the cusp of their dreams.
"From now on," I said, my voice quiet but firm, "you are no longer U18 or U21 players. You are first-team players. You will train with us, you will travel with us, and you will be in contention to play when you are deemed ready. Your lockers are in the senior dressing room. This is not a trial. This is your new reality. You've earned it. Now go get changed. The real work starts tomorrow."
Their reactions were a beautiful, chaotic symphony of emotion. Nya Kirby, my relentless engine, just nodded, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity.
