Malcolm was a naturally talented football player who trained hard as a teenager, especially after being scouted by a qualified coach who represented league teams.
The PFSA boasts the UK's largest independent Scouting Network with over 750 PFSA Certified football scouts covering in the region of 50 fixtures a week for clubs in the Football and Non-League.
He was lucky, as there are thousands of kids playing to impress scouts and get a chance to play for the big clubs. The glamour is too much for youngsters who see themselves walking up the aisle to receive an award like the FA Cup or League Cup which both offer prestige and glory for the winners!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Malcolm became a junior member of Newcastle United and worked his way up to represent the under 16s. They won match after match and climbed up the league table to take the number one spot. His winning attitude helped the team on their quest to win a trophy which they did victoriously.
His fortune came from hard work and sweat. But by the time he was seventeen he wanted to do things like any other kid on the block like binge drinking at local pubs with his school friends. In fact, after trying out marijuana he got so high that his beer drinking became whatever was available such as whisky and tequila shots.
Incidentally, marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant.
He started waking up late for training, and on occasion not even attempting to participate, staying in bed all morning. His attitude took its toll. The team coach complained to his mum who became very worried. She was astounded by his attitude; she only wanted him to be a winner; a player with a winning mindset.
That evening his father, John came home from work. Having been briefed by his wife during the day, he knew that the only way to get Malcolm back on track was to shock his system and give him a disciplined slap on the back.
Once home, he quickly sprang into action, shouting, “Son, get your butt downstairs immediately. We need to talk!”
Malcolm came down in a jiffy. “What’s up dad?”
“Son, you played heroically these last weeks to win the trophy and step up your game. However, to maintain the edge, discipline and a consistent attitude of winning the game is required for ongoing results.
Having fun is important, however, if it bars your progress and holds you back, you need to kick the habit now! Do you get my drift?”
Malcolm, had always respected his father. His dad didn’t say much, but when he spoke the message was clear. He understood the mess he had gotten himself into, and appreciated having a dad who cared enough to help him see the light.
“Thanks dad! I won’t let you down!”
Have a great day!
Prof. Carl Boniface
*Fiction based on truth
Vocabulary builder:
Aisle (n) = passageway, gangway, walkway, passage, corridor, lane
Prestige (n) = respect, status, standing, reputation, fame, stature
Glory (n) = magnificence, grandeur, brilliance, credit, praise
Quest (n) = mission, expedition, pursuit, search, hunt, journey
Sweat (n) = perspiration, moisture, dampness, wetness, fluid
Astound (v) = amaze, astonish, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, confound
shock or greatly surprise. "Her bluntness astounded him"
Slap on the back (idiom) = an expression of approval or praise. “John gave him a slap on the back to approve of his behaviour.”
Sprang (v) = past irregular verb of to spring, (syn) jumped, leapt, leaped, skipped, launch yourself
Jiffy (n) = sec., second, minute, flash, instant, moment, mo., tick
Step up your game (idiom) = to improve one's performance, or the quality of one's work.
Maintain the edge (idiom) = means looking after one’s ability to perform with excellence while searching for new and better ways to improve operational awareness by using the winning attitude modus operandi.
Modus operandi (n) = method, formula, technique, way, protocol, procedure, approach, plan, practice, means
Do you get my drift (idiom) = used to say that you have left out information or your opinion from what you have just said, but that you expect the person listening still to understand it: She's married, but she doesn't act as if she is, if you get my drift. I'm not sure she would be his type, if you catch my drift.
See the light (idiom) = understand or realize something after prolonged thought or doubt.