Rise of a Football God-Chapter 286: A trip back to roots

In just one night, Gregory’s life turned around.

While to Gregory, his whole life turned upside down for good, to Sam, it was just another day in his life as he woke up to meet a new day.

Yesterday, after the exciting street football that he and Emile Smith Rowe engaged on in the streets of Abuja, he felt alive.

After letting off some steam, he felt revitalized again.

That morning, waking up, the first thing that Sam did was to wake his best friend up even as both of them quickly left the mansion with their headsets on, jogging through the streets of Maitama.

In just about 40 minutes or so later.

~----~

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

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

~----~

Sweating profusely but not yet completely out of breath, Sam paid attention to the timer. "We’ve become really better at doing this, huh?" He chuckled.

"Yeah," Smith Rowe muttered amid deep breaths. "I think this should be one of our fastest times in completing our daily quest, right?"

"Yeah," Sam nodded. "It’s approximately 40 minutes".

"Back then, we take mostly an hour and above to complete it, to think we’ve improved so much in such a short time".

Emile Smith Rowe chuckled. "You improved the most".

Already done with their daily system quests, Sam and his friend didn’t see a reason to jog back home as they strolled through the streets of Maitama.

As they strolled, they discussed different topics.

Of course, Sam orchestrated the conversation as the anchor, mostly teasing Emile Smith Rowe as he asked when he would finally get to see his girlfriend.

To that, Smith Rowe could only laugh and blush, but in the end he promised Sam that it was only a matter of time before he meets her.

"Damn! You’re even promising me, are you secretly dating already or you have a girl in your sights?"

"No, damn, no, stop it!" He complained. Stay updated via novelbuddy

Sam chuckled. "You can be so cute sometimes," he grinned. "Few people would believe that Emile Smith Rowe, the English premier league star is such a dunce when it comes to women".

Smith Rowe looked at him defiantly. "I’d love to see the cheeks with which you will say that when you finally meet her".

Sam’s eyes widened. "I said it! I caught you," he laughed, pointing at his English friend. "There’s someone, right?"

Smith Rowe was stunned; he confirmed it himself.

Gritting his teeth, this Englishman grumbled. "You bastard, you baited me".

Sam chuckled, escaping before Smith Rowe could pounce on him.

In the end, after Sam managed to appease him, the focus of their talk finally deviated from other topics to football.

"So, what is your plan for next season?" Emile Smith Rowe looked up at the tall and dark Nigeria professional football player.

Hearing that question, Sam rubbed his chin even as he continued walking.

He thought over his answer before answering. "I don’t know how much you know about my childhood but honestly, I’ve always had a dream from when I was 6". Saying this, a smile crept up Sam’s face.

"I’ve been an FC Barcelona fan since I was 6, right after I watched the blockbuster UEFA champions league final clash between FC Barcelona and Man United back in 2011".

"Since then, I’ve never looked back".

He sighed. "I know, it’s just 1 and half seasons so far since I came to Fulham but in that time, I feel that I’ve achieved enough already".

He looked at Emile Smith Rowe. "My plan for next season is based on only one thing, if FC Barcelona will come to knock or not".

"I have no intentions of going to any other football club".

"If Barca knocks, I’m definitely leaving".

"And if they don’t, I’ll stay put in Fulham, another season to create another legendary miracle is not a challenge that’s too big". He grinned.

"So, what of you, what’s your plan for next season?"

Smith Rowe took even more time in silence than Sam before answering, he chuckled. "I never imagined myself saying this," he looked at Sam. "But I intend to stay put in Fulham FC".

Hearing that, even Sam was surprised as he looked at him, waiting for an explanation and Smith Rowe did not keep him waiting.

Smith Rowe sighed. "I’m an Arsenal academy graduate; I literally lived all my life in the academy and the Emirates Stadium".

"You never played for an academy so I’m not sure if you can relate but being kicked out of Arsenal," Smith Rowe took a deep breath. "That was the hardest period of my life by a large margin".

"Nothing comes close".

"At some point, I felt that I would die. I even gave up on football entirely but then, Fulham came knocking".

"I won’t lie to you," he chuckled, looking at Sam. "When Fulham approached at first, I was disgusted. To me, it was a small mid-table team".

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

"I felt that my talent deserved playing in a top team of the English premier league, not a mid-table team in Fulham".

"It was a pill that was incredibly hard for me to swallow," he sighed again. "But bless the day that I decided to swallow that pill". He smiled.

"I accepted Fulham’s contract offer, and then my life changed".

"Playing with the likes of Iwobi, Jimenez, you, Adama Traore," he laughed. "I never expected to create the best memories of my career in a Fulham shirt".

"That is why I’ve decided". Emile Smith Rowe looked into the distance, a fire burning in his eyes. "I’ll dedicate the best years of my career to Fulham!"

’Are you sure?’ Sam wanted to ask this but he stopped himself as he noticed the look in his friend’s eyes, Smith Rowe already made his decision and he was ready to stand by it. Sam respected it.

Smith Rowe looked at Sam, grinning. "I want to be a Fulham legend!"

…

The next day, after completing their daily quest again, having brought the suggestion yesterday, Sam finally embarked on a trip back to his roots.

Alongside Ian, Smith Rowe, his sister, and his girlfriend, they went on a trip back to Delta State, Abraka where his journey started.

His roots.

Compared to the last time that Sam came to Abraka, he was even bigger now.

He received a triumphant welcome in the city alongside Emile Smith Rowe. He took his English friend on a tour around the town where he grew up.

For this trip, prepared, Mr. Moses already hired military personnel who acted as his son’s guards, protecting him and his friends through their stay in Abraka.

Sam took Emile Smith Rowe and his girlfriend to different memorable places of his life in Abraka, revisiting old memories that he thought he already forgot.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for him.

By the end of it all, they met Coach James, Sam’s very first coach whose Black Hearts’ team were to play an impromptu game to celebrate the return of their legend since they still believed that Sam came out of their team.

Sam, Ian, his sister, his girlfriend, and Emile Smith Rowe watched from the stands as 2 different teams played an exciting game in the Delta State university field, trying their best to impress the 2 superstars.

Sam was the one who provided the prize reward for the game.

The winning team was to win 5 million naira while the losing team would receive a compensation price of 2 million naira.

The top goal scorer would receive 1 million naira and if they were multiple, each of them would receive a million naira each.

The top assist provider would receive 800,000 naira, and the best player of the game and tournament would take home 1.5 million naira.

By the end of the game, Delta State University Abraka felt alive.

Sam also felt alive.

’Home, sweet home…,’ he thought.