PART 43

Actually they have the option of swapping at any point in the game. but all three of them must agree quickly, with the onus of the choice falling on the hands of the defensive player.

The emphasis is on individual performances with the view to winning the matchup for the team

PART 42

Wooh! By this time the three remaining teams were seriously rearing to go. No one player wanted to be left out in the cold without the opportunity to stamp their authority on the score sheets. Defensives were swapping places with offensives - perfectly normal.

The rules state that if a defensive player has his goal post scored at, he has the right to swap places with any of the two other offensive players.

PART 41

Unfortunately there were no players with the 44th jersey in the matchup. That jersey belong to a certain member of the Redhook XC8 team. Naturally, there were a lot of 44 jerseys in the spectating crowd - with names: Tommy Delany and a few others on them. It was the spectators' way of supporting a player who was once best player of the annual series.

PART 40

I must point out before I recount more of what happened in the Lightening Arena that weekend, that inspite of the fact, a team is allowed only as many as twenty players in total, most teams formed the habit of selecting numbers for their jerseys well into the sixties.


Sometimes even numbers close to the nineties are chosen, but this does not derail the regulation that a team can only field 3 players and 4 substitutes in any one matchup.

Where am I going with this: there is a special jersey for the last year's player of the annual series... the highest scorer...Yes, you guessed it right - the 44 jersey.

PART 39

The game had started in earnest. It was a matchup of the Drones,the Boomers, the Rootugs and the Trenchmen XC8 teams.

Scores were at Boomers:6 to Drones: 4, Rootugs and the Trenchmen: 2 a piece.

''Hey Geenie has two goals in,'' Peace pointed at the scores on the enormous illuminated scoreboard.

A sudden...

''Wooh! Watch that geezer'', that was someone sitting directly behind her.

The Arena erupted again as another Boomer scored a seventh goal. His name: Tommy Delany-wearing the black and yellow jersey of the Boomers with the number 33 on it.

PART 38

She was taken in by the presence of the new arena and the drowning sounds of it's supporters. I mean, this was not the first time she was attending an XC8 game but with a place like the Lightening Arena, it was like an ant stepping into a beehive. And I mean that in a sweet way.


The Lightening Arena is no place for the xenophobic nor those who have a fear of clustered spaces. None of the three suffered any such phobia...they were in fact the perfect representation of extreme excitement...annoying...maybe, but certainly not scary, in that sense of the word.

PART 37

Zain loved her sport utility vehicles, but she had three warning and a suspension to contend with, so, instead Magna was assigned that role.

Despite Magna opting to pick up Peace first...giving enough time to Zain to prepare for the event, they still were not on time.

''Who has the 44th?''

''Come...we have missed the startoffs.''

''Check in here...that's the 43rd and the42nd.''

''Come on...not much time now!''

''We are here.....already''

PART 36

On the 10th hour of the same day Zain Goodfallen had hooked up with the other two; namely Peace Conneri and Magna Moonstone. She had eventually decided that if she was to spend a sweaty and exhilarating evening in the Lightening Arena, it would be in the company of the two.


The reason - or part of it, being that one being a model like her and the other a dietician, the occasion could serve as an opportunity to seek support for her dwindling career.

This was an under tone of how she really felt - she wanted the companionship of very familiar friends in whom she could confide in, even though she had other friends she could have bequeathed the tickets on.

PART 35

''The Reds and their silly money...so, he must have an agent then.''

''No, he said different...he did the initial contact through a few friendly players.''

''Then he must be very good.''

''I guarantee it...you could say as good as Geenie.''


I gave him a card with Julio Amstern name and number on, he said something to the effect that he would be speaking to his topman. And as I turned to leave, he asked if I was game for the day's game.

My response was in the affirmative.

PART 34

Jon knew I had access to an extensive contact of XC8 oldhands, players and enthusiasts. So he tended to trust my judgement.


''Well the truth is that I haven't seen him play a full round yet...but I have seen him in training twice.''


''That should be good enough, I know you have a keen eye for the good ones...we still have Geenie Stuart...at least for the next two annuals.''


''I was led to believe that he wasn't content at Drones.''

''Just player's brinksmanship, Fred...he wanted more.''

PART 33

However I am all for frankness in these matters: how you run your custom or agency depends on the credibility of your clients; past and present. So, no good agent would want anything to do mediocrity. And when they do get real talent, they hoard them like they are made of precious stones.


This does not make it any easier for the upstart who needs the experience and the allowance to make a reasonable degree of progress in the game.


That is why Jon likes to meet people like me to discuss young talented upstarts - some of whom may not be known or tried yet.

PART 32

Now a lot of scouts and agents are, kind of like conmen. Well to Jon they are...like that breed of feline creatures who take the preservations of their pride darn right seriously.

But it is widely accepted that they are undeniably an integral part of a system that operates for the players' contract, welfare and transfers: a readily available market.


Some I would admit are an added value to the XC8 circles. But some add no goodwill to the good of the game.

PART 31

Jon Richmond knows it hasn't been all smooth and auspicious the last few annuals but he is also aware that the transfer market is brimming with serious overtures and offers of contractual purchases.


His superiors have been looking at a young offensive player, with the possible output of five successive seasons, in the mouth. They believe he may be a bit over-priced but they have also not overlooked his present ranking and the youthful vigour with which he approaches most offensives.

The secret and open negotiations had long begun in earnest.

PART 30

Within the first few minutes, I ran into him, the experienced hand immediately lurched into what sounded like a sketchy narrative of the overall state of the XC8 season.

Now, we both know...and it does go without saying that though the Drone team is up for grabs this year, they are still the team to defeat.

''Yeah, I heard that before.''

''Well, it does seem like the usual play of the top five.''


He lurched further into more...I personally believed it sounded more like a litany rather than a believeable precis of the top five teams...as at the end of the last annuals.

At the end of the last annuals, Drones were second only to Redhooks, coming up on a close third was Xonos, and then there were the Rootugs and the Arians XC8 teams.

PART 29

I cannot express in enough certain terms what the Lightening Arena looks like. But I would say it is nothing less than magnificence in brick and steel...a grand presence in white, red, purple and yellow.

I am almost always in awe each time I walk the routes by the Arena, which is as close as one gets to see the size of it and its greatness without actually being inside it.

By the time I walked to one of it's entrances I ran into the man I was hoping to see.

PART 28

Somewhere between the 3rd and 6th hour on most saturdays, the Lightening Arena is open to pre-match cleanup and decor teams. Also open, though more frequently, is the mini complex that establishes the various fan and management offices of the Drone XC8 teams.

Jon R. Richmond is one of the Round keepers doubling as security details. Rumour has it that Jon is the man to meet if you want a bit of an insider's tip on what the Drone management are planning for the season.


Anyway, Jon Richmond is no stranger to facilitating the trickle of hype or hearsay about the Drone teams, any time scouts and agents approach him...not to mention when familiar faces like me meet with him.

PART 27

At this point Magna was beginning to make a few references to her own relationships with the few men still in her life...aside her brothers, that is. It inevitably ended up with them talking about their mutual friend; Zain whom Magna disclosed was nursing a ''comeback'' with Geenie Stuart...or so she heard.

They both understood that what Zain wanted and perhaps needed, was a glamorous relationship with a person of ''star'' quality that would...like the last time she dated someone like Geenie...put her up there in the news and then favourable ratings with the media.

PART 26

As a spin off from her long and frequent spells abroad, she had taken to amateur photography...or more to the facts, posting pictures on facebook and flickr dot com.

She proceeded to show the other, a few of the pictures she came along with...the one with her and hubby...and some strange faces in the brightly lit poolside bar...smiling in the fire's specks of flame....the other ones of her and sweet pork faced hubby meandering in the main and smaller streets of the capital city

PART 25

A little envy is good for the psychology...isn't it?

Well, lets say she is a little envious of her friend; Peace...who gets to take lengthy enjoyable sunny breaks while she strains her body posing for Revolt magazine. Who knows...maybe she should have married someone wealthy and then lead a life of near boredom.

But then, Peace studied as a dietician...she didn't marry for money.

PART 24

Magna is doing a bit good in the modelling circles. Its a bit difficult to cover all the sudden spells and then stay idle during the lower ebb of work load. But she is looking to go abroad next year.Yes, sounds like cliche doesn't it?

Well, one is always looking to climb over to the other side where the fields seem greener. I will be honest. She is not like her friend who has married an investment banker. She is on a limited budget and has not quite cut it as a very well paid model yet.

PART 23

When I say rookie though, I don't mean like a burgler or a con man. I mean like a freshman with the ability to bring a twist to each game...very skillful with stealing the game or changing its direction.


Magna smiled at Peace across her kitchen table with her own mug in both hands, filled with warm tea...Kenny's tea. She knew Peace returned about ten days ago as promised, but she only got round to see her now since she returned, for the sole reason that she had been out and about trying hard to get another opening in her job.

This was Peace's third attempt at catching her at home.

PART 22

Well one could very well say that the fact she has three domineering brothers could have made her an enthusiast of XC8 games. But I believe that chances are that, even if she had just sisters, she still would be the enthusiast that she is.

Why? Because XC8 players are like movie stars. There is a lot of money moving in the circuits of the games. Magna would know. One of their friends, once dated an XC8 player. He is not so much in her life at the moment...but when they were together, they were rooted to be together even though she is at least six years older.

Zain had her modelling career on the turn of the curve of her peak and ratings (another reason Zain and Magna were friends...they both worked for the same agency once)

And him? His name is Geenie Stuart. He is well known for the being on the most paid rookies list...and living up to the label.

PART 21

Although Magna was about to step out for the day...she had been out of work for a few weeks...which is like forever...she was actually very well pleased to see Peace. The only one person she recalls being close friends with as long as Peace was her brother's sister-in-law; Molly Bertrand.


Of-course she no longer regards her as a friend...rather she regards her as family...a sister that is. With the intent to make up for the sister she never really had (she has three brothers) she tended to take her female friends very seriously.

Next to her best mate Molly, who is about the same age with her, is her close friend Peace.

PART 20

I recall making earlier references to a certain Zain Goodfallen....a thought about not being sure if I had earned the right to be one of Zain's close friends...

Actually, all three of them...Zain Goodfallen, Magna Moonstone and the surprise visitor: Peace Conneri were very good friends...but what can I say...even good is relative.

All three of them though, could be seen together in mega shops, coffee houses and restaurants enjoying one another's company...most chances they got.

PART 19

Magna Moonstone laughed out loud when she opened the main door to see who it was at her porch. It was a friend who obviously had not seen her for a while. And as it was custom for most female friends like Magna and her friend, they both fell in each other's arms in a massive show of affection.


I think for a minute they both did not notice it was 7 am in the morning and that most others in the neighbourhood were commuting to the day's decreasingly elusive jobs. Or perhaps they simply did not care about any such attention.


Point made...perhaps one would think it a bit too odd to receive such an early visit from a friend one has not seen for weeks.


Well, one should accept that it's reasonable to receive a visit from one whose intention is beating the day's agenda to it...more explicitly...catching one before the day's intinerary calls one away from home.

PART 18

When you bear this in mind, it does sooner or later brings you to the fore for further thought...how do you stumble on a great player for the series? Are they trained from youth or is there any alternate course of action to this somewhat similar process to most older ball games.


I mean if there is anything to go by, picking Julio Amstern on the little I know about him does not exactly chime as a bell of success on the trading floor.

But I did.

PART 17

In any difficult game such as the XC8 game one does not necessarily look out, when scouting, for prowess. It may be a fundamental strength but on a closer swot analysis it may not necessarily be an advantage.


Yes, I recall occasional matchups or tussles between prowess and intuition. On those occasions seven out of ten, intuition seemed to be the better player.

Some team management may offer that, what a player lacks in intuition could be made up for in speed. Yes, I bought that idea once when I was a member of one such team.

Speed meant the ability to control because in reality one can't have one without the other.

PART 16

I know...Julio this may be a lot better than skiing, surfing or racing...in some ways...if you like. You may not be making an instant fortune here....but its a whole lot better than the fast life of an XC8 player.


''My friend here says you XC8 very good''

Come on, I know I am good with my hands and feet...but not that good....only just that I miss the thrills of a live match...a good season would probably bring me to level you may find acceptable.


I was beginning to like this fellow...Julio.