Lamine stood at the stadium edge. The crowd roared like warm wind. He marched onto the green field.
He lined up for his first kick. Boots crunched on gravel. Whoosh — the ball zipped past his head and bonked him gently on the nose.
Thump. The ball rolled slowly into the sand at the sideline. He tried once more, but tripped over his own laces and landed on his bottom with a soft plop.
A teammate held a ball out to him. 'You can do it,' the teammate said, tapping the ball with a cleat. Click-click.
Lamine stood up, brushed the grass from his knees, and nodded. He looked at the goal across the field.
Lamine ran as fast as he could. His boots slammed the turf, sending little clumps of earth flying.
'Now!' his teammates shouted. Lamine swung his leg and kicked with all his might.
The ball soared through the air and rippled the back of the net. Swish!
The stadium exploded. Whistles blew and fans leaped from their seats. His teammates scooped him up and swung him around.
Lamine smiled huge and grabbed his cap, hugging it tight.
