Rise of a Football God

When the diagnosis from the medical professionals working for Fulham finally arrived, Emile Smith Rowe and Ian felt their whole world crashing down.

The mere sight of surgery was all they needed for their mood to come crashing down to the abyss.

When Coach Marco Silva got the report, this coach also felt like his whole world came crashing down.

In the end, this coach chuckled mirthfully. "Life, always the big bastard".

"Just when I'm having the best season of my life, you have to hit me with this, a severe injury to my best player".

"What a life".

When the news was eventually released on Fulham's official social media handles, the footballing landscape of the English premier league experienced an upheaval as the name 'Samuel Moses' started trending again.

Even while he was injured, Sam was trending.

The main talk of football fans in England revolved around Sam, his performances this season, and then his unfortunate injury.

Despite the fact that they sympathized with him, the main focus quickly switched from Sam as it transferred to Fulham.

How would Fulham cope without their talisman?

The prognosis of Sam's injury showed that he would be out for approximately 4 months, and that was on the basis that his ankle showed no complications after the surgery and even that was not guaranteed.

If complications arose in his recovery process, Fulham may lose Sam for up to 6 months which may as well be the rest of the season.

Fulham was in a crisis!

This was the verdict of neutral premier league fans who evaluated the situation. Afterall, Sam was the cornerstone of Fulham's remarkable rise this season, sitting at the top of the premier league table.

Even someone with zero knowledge of football could tell Sam's influence in this Fulham team after watching their game only once.

This was why fans predicted Fulham's fall after Sam's injury.

The whole Fulham team was playing at a level higher than last season, but Sam was still the cornerstone that brought the X factor, pushing them over the line in tough games. Without him, Fulham would struggle to win games.

It was with his presence that his teammates played at such an elite level, making them seem better than they actually were.

Without Sam, the prediction was that the true Fulham would be exposed.

If neutral fans could see this, the Fulham squad itself and their coach who spent every single training session with him could see even more.

Coach Marco Silva knew that his club was now facing a crisis.

Sam's injury was a disaster that left him panicking. But in the end, there was nothing he could do. This coach simply decided to visit his star player in the hospital.

"Hey buddy, how are you feeling?"

Sam chuckled. "I feel better than before".

At this moment, his ankle was suspended at a specific angle where he no longer felt the sharp pang of pain attributed to his injury.

Coach Marco Silva could not help but look at his star player's bandaged ankle, he patted him by the knee. "Don't worry Sam, you'll be fine".

Hearing that from his coach, Sam could not help but feel bad as he thought of the team. "How are the guys?"

"They're good". Marco Silva forced a smile.

He patted Sam again. "When is your surgery scheduled for?"

"I'll have it in 2 days".

"Good," he patted Sam on the knee again, grinning. "You focus on recovering from your injury, leave the rest to us".

Coach Marco Silva patted his chest. "We'll take it from here".

Sam did not sense any confidence from his coach's voice, but he did sense conviction, an unshakable determination to give his best.

Sam was satisfied with that.

He smiled. "I'll be cheering you guys on from here".

After leaving a get well soon flower at his bed side, Coach Marco Silva finally left. That night, Kayla arrived in England.

She stayed with him at the hospital, allowing Ian and Emile Smith Rowe to leave and finally get some rest. Alone with his girlfriend was when Sam finally allowed himself to vent, letting his tears flow as he let out all his frustration.

'This same ankle again!' Sam was frustrated.

Kayla hugged him, letting him vent so he could feel better and a few minutes later, he did feel better.

An injury was the last thing that Sam wanted when his career was going so swimmingly, but sometimes, things go out of your control and life just happens.

When he collapsed on the pitch, Sam felt like his world was going to end but now, after venting, he felt better.

Kayla staying at his side gave him strength.

'This injury is not the end of the world!'

'It's not like I'll be injured forever, I'll eventually recover, all I need is time. Besides, we're still top of the table'.

'Who knows? Maybe they can really take it from where I stopped'. Instead of focusing on the negative, Sam tried to focus on the positive.

Feeling better now, he finally dialed his mother's number.

He refused to speak to her since, this was because of his fear that his mom would lose it once she heard the dejection in his voice.

But now, feeling a bit better, he finally called her on a video call.

Trust Mrs. Moses, she was all over him as soon as the call connected.

"Sam! Finally," she heaved a huge sigh of relief, making a prayer sign to God. "How are you feeling? How's your leg?"

"That bastard! How dare he injure my son?!"

"I'll kill him!"

"Does he know the God that I serve? He wanted to kill you but my God didn't let it, thank God you were only injured".

Sam chuckled exasperatedly. "Yeah, yeah".

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm better," Sam said before switching the camera, focusing on his leg.

"Jesus!" He heard his mom exclaim loudly. "My son…!" She lamented.

In the end, Sam's mom became a motivational speaker, telling him how this was not the end of the world and how it was just a hurdle in his career.

Sam was suspicious. 'Dad definitely told her what to say!'

In the end, his mom ended it with a long prayer session, wishing him quick recovery. That night, Kayla stayed with him at the hospital.

…

The next morning, Sam was surprised as the whole Fulham squad came to the hospital to visit him with flowers.

Sam never knew how important he was till that morning.

"…" He was speechless.

He felt overwhelmed, he felt important and it warmed his heart.

In the end, engaging in light banter with his teammates even as they mocked his injury, looking down on him for being weak, Sam was surprised to discover that they still found a reason to laugh even in the disaster.

And that… filled him with hope.

Hope for life without him in the Fulham team.