FOOTBALL! LEGENDARY PLAYER-Chapter 213: Adidas

The morning of the commercial shoot arrived with a light dusting of snow across Utrecht, transforming the city into a winter postcard. Amani woke earlier than usual, a mixture of excitement and nervousness creating a restless energy he rarely felt before football matches.

The System activated as he prepared breakfast:

[PERFORMANCE CONTEXT: Commercial production environment - non-competitive parameters]

[ADAPTATION REQUIRED: Camera-optimized movement patterns differ from match efficiency]

[MENTAL FRAMEWORK: Balanced approach between authenticity and presentation]

Sophia had arranged for a car to collect him at 7:30 AM. The shoot was taking place at a specialized sports facility on the outskirts of Amsterdam – a venue equipped with high-speed cameras, controlled lighting, and the technical capabilities required for a professional commercial production.

"Nervous?" asked the driver as they navigated the morning traffic.

"A little," Amani admitted. "Different kind of pressure than a match."

"You’ll be fine. Just pretend the cameras are scouts watching you play."

Amani smiled at the comparison. In some ways, performing for cameras seemed less intimidating than playing in front of thousands of spectators. In other ways, the unfamiliar environment created its own unique pressure.

The facility came into view after an hour’s drive – a modern complex of buildings with the Adidas logo prominently displayed on temporary signage. Several vans and trucks were parked outside, crew members unloading equipment despite the early hour.

Inside, the main space had been transformed into a production set. The standard sports hall markings were covered by special flooring designed to showcase the new boots. Lighting rigs surrounded a central playing area, and multiple camera positions had been established at different angles and heights.

"Amani! Welcome!" A woman in Adidas branded clothing approached with an outstretched hand. "I’m Lieke, the project manager for this campaign. Thank you for joining us today."

"Thank you for the opportunity," Amani replied, shaking her hand.

"Let me introduce you to the team and show you around. The other players are arriving soon."

Lieke guided him through the facility, explaining the process and introducing him to key personnel – the director, cinematographer, technical advisors, and various production staff. Everyone was friendly but clearly focused on their tasks, creating an atmosphere of professional efficiency.

"This is your changing area," Lieke explained, showing him to a partitioned space with his name on a temporary sign. "You’ll find everything you need inside – the new Predator Edge boots, training kit, and some options for the interview portion."

Inside the changing area, Amani found a pristine pair of Adidas Predator Edge boots in a striking blue and black colorway. They were displayed on a custom stand with his name engraved on a small plaque – a touch that made the experience feel more personal.

Next to the boots was a rack of Adidas training gear and a tablet with a note: "Watch this for today’s overview."

The video featured the campaign’s creative director explaining the concept: "Next Generation is about showcasing the future of football through the players who will define it. Each of you represents something special – a particular skill, quality, or playing style that embodies what these new Predator Edge boots enable."

As Amani changed into the provided gear, the other featured players began arriving. He recognized most of them from Eredivisie matches – Christian Eriksen from Ajax, Milan Hoek from AZ Alkmaar, Stephan de Vrij from Feyenoord, and Erik Pierters from PSV Eindhoven. All were young talents considered among the brightest prospects in Dutch football.

"The Eredivisie wonder kid!" Erik Pierters called out with a grin as he spotted Amani. "Youngest Player of the Month in history, right?"

Amani nodded, slightly embarrassed by the recognition. "That’s me."

"Crazy what you’re doing at fifteen," Boadu added, extending his hand. "Respect, man."

The interaction set the tone for the day – a mixture of professional respect and youthful camaraderie. Despite playing for rival clubs, they shared the common experience of being young talents navigating the early stages of their careers.

The director gathered everyone for a briefing once they were changed and ready. "Today is about capturing what makes each of you special," he explained. "We’re not asking you to act – we want your authentic skills, just performed in a way that works for cameras."

He turned to Amani specifically. "For you, we want to showcase that visionary passing – the ability to see and execute passes others can’t. We’ve designed a specific sequence to highlight this."

The technical advisor, a former professional player, demonstrated the planned sequence – a series of passes through increasingly complex patterns of mannequins, culminating in a no-look pass that would be the centerpiece of Amani’s segment.

"Think you can handle it?" the director asked.

Amani nodded confidently. "No problem."

The morning began with individual technical sessions, each player working with the technical advisor to refine the movements that would be featured. For Amani, this meant practicing various passing techniques while the cinematographer and director observed, occasionally suggesting small adjustments to make the movements more visually impactful.

"We need to see your eyes before you make the no-look pass," the director explained. "Look directly at the target, then deliberately look away as you execute. It’s about making the deception visible to the camera."

Amani adjusted his technique accordingly. On the pitch, his no-look passes were subtle deceptions designed to manipulate defenders. For the commercial, the movement needed to be more pronounced – still authentic, but optimized for visual storytelling.

The System provided guidance as he practiced:

[VISUAL NARRATIVE ADAPTATION: Emphasizing technical elements for camera clarity]

[PERIPHERAL VISION+: Maintaining functional accuracy while enhancing visual presentation]

[EXECUTION BALANCE: 80% authentic technique, 20% camera-optimized presentation]

By mid-morning, the individual practice sessions gave way to the actual filming. Each player would have approximately two hours in the main shooting area, with the others continuing to practice or participating in interview segments.

Christian Eriksen went first, showcasing the dribbling skills that had made him a fan favorite at Ajax. Amani watched from the sidelines, fascinated by the technical aspects of the production – the multiple camera angles, the precise lighting adjustments, the director’s specific requests for subtle changes in movement or timing.

"It’s like football, but with twenty coaches all wanting something slightly different," Eriksen joked during a break between takes.

When Amani’s turn came, the pressure felt surprisingly familiar – not unlike the moments before entering a match as a substitute. The System activated:

[PERFORMANCE MODE: Camera-optimized expression activated]

[ELITE COMPOSURE: Maintaining optimal function under production pressure]

[SPATIAL AWARENESS: Adjusted for camera positioning and lighting considerations]

The first few takes focused on establishing shots – Amani receiving the ball, controlling it with different techniques, demonstrating the boot’s features through various touches. The director provided clear, specific feedback after each take, helping him understand what worked visually and what needed adjustment.

"Good, but let’s see more of your face when you receive the ball," or "Can you take a slightly wider angle on that turn? It shows the boot better from camera three."

As they progressed to the passing sequences, Amani found himself enjoying the challenge. The technical aspects of his game – his touch, vision, and passing accuracy – translated well to this environment. The repetition required for multiple takes felt similar to training drills, though with more specific parameters.

The centerpiece no-look pass required the most takes. The technical execution was never the issue – Amani could deliver the pass accurately every time.

The challenge came in synchronizing his movement with the camera tracking, ensuring his face was visible at the key moment of deception, and executing with the precise weight and curve that would look most impressive on screen.

"That’s it!" the director finally called after the twelfth attempt. "Perfect! The way the ball curved around that last mannequin – beautiful!"

The crew applauded spontaneously, and Amani felt a surge of satisfaction different from scoring a goal or delivering a match-winning assist, but gratifying nonetheless.

The afternoon brought a different challenge – the interview portion. Each player would provide commentary about the boots, their playing style, and their aspirations. Sophia had prepared Amani thoroughly for this, but facing the camera with bright lights and a full crew watching created a unique pressure.

"Just be yourself," the interviewer advised as they prepared. "We can always do multiple takes if needed."

The questions began simply enough – how the boots felt, what features he appreciated most, how they complemented his playing style. Amani responded naturally, drawing on the points Sophia had helped him prepare without sounding rehearsed.

"The touch on these new Predators is incredible," he explained. "For my game, which relies on precise passing, having that consistent feel for the ball is essential. The grip pattern helps me put exactly the right spin and weight on passes."

As the interview progressed, the questions shifted toward his career and rapid rise.

"At fifteen, you’re the youngest Eredivisie Player of the Month in history. Where do you see yourself in five years?"

Amani paused, considering his response carefully. "I try not to look that far ahead. Football development isn’t linear. My focus is on improving every day, learning from coaches and teammates at Utrecht, and maximizing each opportunity. The rest will take care of itself."

The interviewer nodded approvingly. "Very mature perspective. One final question – what advice would you give to young players hoping to follow your path?"

"Enjoy the process," Amani replied without hesitation. "Work hard, absolutely, but find joy in the development journey itself, not just in achievements or recognition. And remember that football is played with the head as much as the feet – understanding the game tactically and making good decisions is as important as technical skills."

"Cut! That was excellent," the director called. "Very natural, very authentic. I don’t think we need another take."

The production coordinator approached as Amani was leaving the interview area. "We’d like to get some group shots with all five players before we wrap. Could you change into this?" She handed him an Adidas tracksuit with subtle branding.

The final segment brought all five players together, showcasing their camaraderie despite representing rival clubs. The director arranged them in various formations, capturing both posed shots and more natural interactions as they discussed football and demonstrated skills together.

"This is the future of Dutch football right here," the creative director commented as he watched the young talents interact. "Between the five of you, there’s what – three different nationalities represented?"

"Well, I don’t Know about that."

"While playing for Dutch clubs and potentially Dutch national teams," the creative director mused. "That’s a powerful story about modern football and modern Netherlands."

As the day drew to a close, the production team gathered everyone for a final briefing. "Thank you all for your professionalism and talent today," the director said. "The commercial will air in February to coincide with the boot launch. We’ll also be creating individual player features for social media and the Adidas website."

Lieke handed each player a gift bag containing a signed certificate of participation, promotional materials about the new boots, and – most significantly – a custom pair of the Predator Edge boots they had been showcasing.

"These are production samples, personalized with your names," she explained. "You’re among the first players in the world to receive them."

Amani examined his pair – identical to those he’d worn during the shoot, but with "A. HAMADI" subtly embossed on the heel. A small detail, but one that made the experience feel more personal and significant.

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