Upon arrival at the registration desk, Jesse was greeted by one of the seated staff members dressed in Pepsi-branded attire.
Jesse wasn't pre-registered, so after paying the registration fee, he was handed a registration form to fill out.
The form asked for essential information to be filled out such as; his full name, date of birth, contact information, emergency contact details, home address, previous club experience if any, medical conditions if any, position(s) played and preferred foot.
Jesse filled in his full name, wrote down his date of birth, home address, and since his mother had allowed him to come, he decided to fill in her phone number as his contact information and emergency contact details.
He had no medical or any health conditions to speak of and had never been in an academy or played professional football, so he left those two spaces blank.
As for positions played, Jesse could play on both wings but since his preferred foot was right and he enjoyed cutting inside to create space for a shot, he decided to fill in only the left-winger position.
The PFA staff member had mentioned they were on hand to assist with any questions or difficulties he had in filling out the form, but so far, Jesse hadn't encountered any problem with its contents.
He finished quickly and handed the man the filled out form.
When he did, the man asked him to present a copy of his identification document — be it his birth certificate, school ID, or national ID card — to verify his age and eligibility, and to also bring two passport-sized photographs along with a signed parental consent form since he was a minor.
Jesse brought out a copy of his birth certificate and handed it to the man, he had five passport-sized photographs in his possession, so in that department, he was prepared — overly prepared in fact.
He handed two of the five passport-sized photographs to the man, sighing inwardly.
'Why do I always look like something that came out of a horror flick in passport photos?'
He always looked so hideous and repulsive in them.
Jesse wasn't completely sure whether it was just a common occurrence or his sole experience alone.
At that moment, Jesse was half jealous of those people who always looked flawless and photogenic in photos whatever time it was, what ever place they were, what ever angle the camera snapped from, what ever pose they took, and regardless of whether they were camera ready or not.
'Lucky bastards...'
The PFA staff member he handed his documents to conducted a quick check, carefully reviewing their contents while Jesse's mind wandered in such fashion.
Once the man was done, he proceeded to staple Jesse's passport-sized photographs to his registration form, then, he stapled Jesse's birth certificate and the signed parental consent form to his registration form immediately afterwards.
After completing the registration process, Jesse was given a blue bib with his registration number and the Pepsi logo in front to wear over his jersey, along with a blue wristband.
The PFA staff member explained that the wristbands were colour-coded corresponding to their age groups:
White for Under-12, Blue for Under-14, Red for Under-16, and Black for Under-18.
The trials would be divided into different age categories to ensure fairness and a level playing field among participants.
For Jesse who had played against players much older than him for so long, this was a really big boon.
The PFA staff member then handed him a small pamphlet with information about the Pepsi Football Academy, its history, and its achievements, then directed him to the designated area for an orientation session.
On the way to the orientation area, Jesse put on the blue bib over his jersey. He found the polyester pretty comfortable. It was loose and free, and as a result, it didn't hamper breathing or mobility over the jersey he wore.
After a short walk, he reached the orientation area where a representative from the academy — a tall man wearing a black face cap and dressed in a Pepsi-branded attire like the rest of the officials — stood atop a dais, waiting silently in front of the surrounding crowd with a megaphone in hand.
When the participants present for the orientation reached a number he deemed sufficient, he quietly nodded then raised the megaphone to his mouth and addressed everyone by first welcoming them to the PFA trials.
Then, he introduced himself shortly and proceeded to provide a detailed overview of the day's schedule to the listening crowd.
He explained that the trials would be divided into several segments, each designed to assess different aspects of the participants' abilities. These segments would include technical drills and small-sided matches. He assured everyone that the trials were structured in such a way as to give each participant a fair chance to showcase their skills, regardless of their previous experience, age, background or their positions on the field of play.
Next, the representative moved on to discuss the safety guidelines and rules of conduct. He emphasized the importance of playing fairly, respecting the referees, and treating fellow participants with kindness and sportsmanship. Of course, the trials were a competitive environment, but he reminded everyone that it was crucial to maintain a positive attitude and avoid any form of aggression or unsportsmanlike behavior — as red cards were an automatic disqualification.
Bullying or disrespectful conduct were also not tolerated in order to ensure everyone felt safe, included and supported throughout the entire process.
He then provided some practical advice for the participants, such as staying hydrated, warming up properly before each session, and listening carefully to the instructions given by the coaches, and warned them to report to the medical tent immediately if they sustained any injuries or concussions from violent collisions. He encouraged everyone to give the trials their best effort but also to enjoy the experience and learn from it, regardless of the outcome and not be discouraged if they were not selected.
Afterwards, he gave them some brief information about the selection process and what happens after the trials. From what he said, apparently, only 5% of the total participants would be selected into the academy.
That caused a lot of nervous gasps and collective murmurs to ripple through the crowd.
It was a massive culling!
The representative didn't seemed particularly perturbed by any of the reactions to that bit of information. With that, he concluded his speech and wished the crowd the best of luck for the trials, reminding them to stay focused, play with passion, and most importantly, enjoy the experience.
He then asked if anyone had any questions and patiently addressing concerns, he aptly provided additional clarification where needed.
Once their questions were exhausted, the orientation session was finally complete and the representative reinformed them about the purpose of the wristbands, then directed them according to the colours of their wristbands to their respective age-group areas to begin the trials.
Jesse made his way to the Under-14 section with the participants who were in his age group, and once they reached there, they were given time to warm up and prepare for the coming trials.