Rise of a Football God

Mrs. Moses was just having one of her rants.

Since the last time when Sam and his girlfriend stayed in Nigeria, which coincided with Sam's professional debut for the Nigerian national football team, this Nigerian mother felt her son drifting away from her.

As a mother though, who was once just a wife, and before that a girlfriend too, she understood exactly what was happening.

Sam was simply becoming mature after getting intimate with a woman.

The hierarchy of loved ones in his heart already underwent a bit of a change. She and her husband still ranked high in Sam's heart but it was clear that now, at this early stage of their relationship, Kayla now took the lead.

This mother understood didn't mean that she took it kindly though, after all, emotions don't always follow logic.

She loved Kayla after spending time with her, she was happy that her son met a girl like him, but at the same time she could not help but feel a bit salty.

Who wouldn't feel salty? To have their precious son's attention stolen so suddenly, she was struggling to cope with it emotionally.

Understanding his mother though, Sam knew exactly how to appease her. Immediately after she cut the call, he called back but she didn't pick up his call.

Sam didn't give up though, he kept on calling, giving her 5 missed calls till she finally picked the 6th time. "You finally remember that you have a mother?"

Sam chuckled. "Come on mom, you know you're still number 1 in my heart".

"Hehe, mommy mommy, the only wife of Moses, the most beautiful mother in the whole universe, the apple of Moses' eye, the one who brought Sam into the world, world's best mom!"

Well, that was the charmer.

Mrs. Moses tried to stay difficult and indifferent but she simply couldn't, Sam's sweet words already won her back completely.

"This boy!" She gritted her teeth and cursed through the video call. "Since when did you become such a sweet talker?"

Sam chuckled, then he laid down on his bed, sighing. "Winning in your career builds your confidence," he looked at his mother. "A lot".

"Mom, this season, seeing what I'm doing in the premier league, it's affected me so much psychologically but I'm dealing with it".

His eyes shimmered with an unknown light. "I feel much more mature than I was last year, and with it comes confidence".

He looked at his mom and chuckled again. "I've always been a sweet talker; I just never had the courage to express it till now".

Mrs. Moses looked at her son, suddenly feeling proud. "No wonder you were able to charm a sweet girl like Kayla, you remind me of your dad back in the day".

Hearing that, Sam's ears stood like antennas. "Back in the day?"

He laughed. "Come on, come on, mom, tell me! I want to hear about back in the days! Now that I think about it, you've never told me how the both of you met, tell me, tell me!"

"Calm down…"

"You must tell me!" Sam was adamant. "Tell me the words Dad used to woo you, and when you decided that he will be your husband".

Hearing these words from her son, for the first time in 19 years, Sam saw his mom blush.

"…!" He was shocked.

He never knew that his hard mom was capable of blushing. 'Damn!'

In the end though, a slightly flustered Mrs. Moses postponed the reveal. "Ok, I promise to tell you after your next game if you remember to call me".

Sam's eyes lit up. "Deal?"

Mrs. Moses looked at her son, confused. "Huh?"

Sam palmed his face, muffling a laugh. "Come on mom, you're disgracing me". He laughed aloud. "When someone ask you deal? You say deal to confirm it".

"Hmph!" She harrumphed. "That's such a childish sentiment".

"So deal?"

She looked away from the camera haughtily, but in the end, she nodded, confirming the deal as Sam pumped a fist in celebration.

Only after this did they end the call in a harmonious atmosphere.

…

The next day, while the rave of Fulham's victory over Tottenham continued in the city of Fulham, Sam already resumed his daily grind alongside his friend.

He and Emile Smith Rowe jogged through the streets of Fulham.

A few dozen minutes later…

~----~

[You have completed System Daily Quest: Mentality Monster!]

[You have been rewarded with a low-grade physical conditioning elixir!]

~----~

It was just a first of many from Sam in his preparations to Fulham's next engagement that would also be in the premier league.

Across the next few days, alongside his friend in Emile Smith Rowe, they went about their days, jogging together, working out together, and reporting to training the earliest for team training sessions.

In Craven Cottage, Sam now had a partner in notoriety, Emile Smith Rowe who already built a reputation for himself for his punctuality to training.

Actually, the reputation was because he was involved in a challenge with Sam to see who would report to training earliest after their early morning training.

Mixed in with his daily life heavily filled with football and training were Sam's sessions with his girlfriend, Kayla that he never failed to look forward to.

Talking with Kayla was one of his best activities to kill time these days.

When Sam was exhausted from training, he calls Kayla. When he felt a shift in his mood emotionally, he calls Kayla. When he felt bored, he calls Kayla and Kayla was always available to receive his call.

Sometimes, she even sneaks out of lecture halls at her university just to have some private time and speak with him.

It was weird, Sam felt like a teenager in love.

Sam was unused to the feeling, but all he knew was that the joy he felt from interacting with Kayla aided his increased enthusiasm for football in recent weeks.

Just thinking of Kayla filled him with more energy to work and train.

And like this, the D-day soon came for matchday 14 of the English premier league for the 2024/2025 season.

(Premier league:)

(Matchday 14:)

(Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace)

(Date: 3rd December, 2024)

…

(Leicester City 3-1 West Ham)

(Date: 3rd December, 2024)

…

(Southampton 1-5 Chelsea)

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Man City 3-0 Nottm Forest)

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool)

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Everton 4-0 Wolves)

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Arsenal 2-0 Man United)

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford)
Continue your journey with empire

(Date: 4th December, 2024)

…

(Fulham – Brighton)

(Date: 5th December, 2024)

…

(Bournemouth – Tottenham)

(Date: 5th December, 2024)

With most games of the matchday already played, Fulham finally had their go.

In a cool Thursday evening in Fulham, they clashed against Brighton.