The Monday sun filtered softly through the glass walls of the Ajax training facility, but there
was no softness in the way Femi Adeleye trained. Something had shifted over the weekend.
Lars de Groot's words still echoed in his mind: Let the game come to you.
Femi was beginning to listen.
For the first time in weeks, he walked into training with a sense of clarity. He was still raw as
a left-back, still prone to the occasional misstep, but now, he was observing. Studying.
Learning. Every drill, every scrimmage, every movement on the pitch became a lesson.
He was still getting beat now and then, sure. But now he was adjusting, tweaking his
positioning, holding his ground just a little longer, reading the attackers just a bit earlier. The
difference was subtle, but it was there.
A New Challenge
That Wednesday, Coach Bakker had something different planned. The Ajax U-23s were to
play a friendly match against the senior reserves, a match meant to test the team's
versatility with new formations.
When Femi walked into the locker room, he immediately saw the formation on the
whiteboard. It was a 3-4-3, with him listed as the left-wing back.
Coach, I have been working on being a left-back, Femi said hesitantly, approaching Coach
Bakker as the rest of the team geared up. Could I try that instead of left-wing back today?
Coach Bakker shot him a stern look, then simply shook his head. You are a left-wing back
for now. Let us see what you have got.
Femi's stomach churned. He was being asked to play in a role that still felt unfamiliar,
especially with the pressure mounting. But there was no time for complaints.
The Match Begins
The first half started with Ajax lining up in the 3-4-3 formation. Femi found himself stationed
on the left, a wing-back tasked with covering both defensive duties and pushing forward
when the team had possession.
It was immediately clear how much work lay ahead.
Femi's instincts were all over the place. His positioning was off. Every time he tried to push
forward, he found himself out of position when the reserves countered. He was too slow to
track his man and too eager to join the attack.
It was only a matter of time before the consequences showed.
The First Mistake
In the 22nd minute, Femi's first major lapse occurred. As the ball was played into the box, he
misjudged the timing of his tackle, lunging in too early. The reserves' striker stepped around
him with ease, and Femi was forced to commit a foul inside the penalty area. The referee
pointed to the spot.
The penalty was converted easily. Ajax U-23s were 1-0 down.
The Second Goal
The game continued, and Femi's frustration grew. He was struggling to make an impact
defensively. His overlapping runs often left gaps in his coverage, and when the reserves
came forward, he was not quick enough to recover.
At the 38th minute, the second goal arrived—this time, a well-executed cross from the right.
The reserves' winger darted into the space Femi should have covered, and though Femi
was close, he could not quite reach the ball. A header hammered into the net.
It was not entirely Femi's fault, but it was another blow to his confidence.
The Third Goal
Just before halftime, things went from bad to worse. The reserves had another quick
counter, and Femi was left to defend one-on-one against a winger he had played with
before in the Ajax youth setup. This time, Femi took the wrong angle, trying to intercept a
pass rather than staying tight on the attacker. The winger feinted inside, leaving Femi flat-
footed, then dashed past him on the outside.
The cross was perfect. A striker was there to finish it off.
3-0. The U-23s were being outclassed.
The Halftime Meeting
The Ajax U-23s trudged off the field, heads down. Coach Bakker was not pleased. He
stomped into the tunnel, muttering to himself. Femi tried to avoid eye contact, but it was
clear he was not going to escape the criticism.
But as Femi stripped off his kit and wiped the sweat from his forehead, Lars de Groot, the
legendary Dutch left-back, approached Coach Bakker. Lars had been standing on the
sideline, observing the match intently. His eyes locked with Femi's for a moment, then he
turned back to Bakker.
You need to make a change, Lars said firmly. This formation is not working for Femi. He is
not a left-wing back. He is not getting the protection he needs.
Coach Bakker sighed, his frustration evident. He has to learn.
I know, Lars said, his tone softening. But he is better as a left-back. Play him in a 4-3-3. Give
him the space to defend without having to worry about being all the way up the pitch.
There was a long pause as Coach Bakker considered Lars' advice. Finally, he nodded. Fine.
We will change it.
The Shift to 4-3-3
At halftime, the U-23s returned to the field, but there was a noticeable shift in the
formation. Coach Bakker switched to a 4-3-3, with Femi moving into a traditional left-back
role. Lars had convinced him it was the best option.
Femi felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He was nervous, but this was what he had been
practicing for—the defensive discipline of a left-back, without the burden of constantly
having to push forward as a wing-back.
As the game resumed, Femi's adjustments were immediate. The defensive shift gave him
the space he needed to focus on his primary job: protecting the back line. And for the first
time that night, he began to look like the defender he had been trying to become.
The U-23s were down 3-0, but Femi was not giving up. He pressed forward with confidence,
keeping his shape and reading the game more intelligently. His first true test came in the
50th minute when the reserves broke quickly on a counterattack. A striker raced past the
midfield and into Femi's area, but the young Nigerian was ready. He made a well-timed
tackle just outside the box, sending the ball away with precision. The attack was halted,
and the crowd responded with a mix of surprise and approval.
Just minutes later, another attack came down his side. This time, Femi stood his ground,
waiting for the winger to make a move. As the ball was played into his direction, he took a
step back, staying on the winger's inside shoulder. As the attacker tried to cut inside, Femi
lunged forward with perfect timing, blocking the ball cleanly and sending it safely out for a
throw-in. His defensive work was slowly starting to show.
By the 62nd minute, Femi's confidence was beginning to rise. The reserves' forward, seeing
an opportunity, broke into space on the left side. Femi tracked the run with urgency, staying
tight to his man as he approached the box. As the ball was played to the striker, Femi slid in
just in time to intercept the pass, sending it clear and starting a counterattack for the U-
23s.
With his defensive duties starting to take shape, Femi felt the tide of the match turning.
Though Ajax U-23s were still down 3-0, their play was more organized, more cohesive. The
senior reserves seemed frustrated, their attacks now consistently fizzling out against the
solidified back four.
Around the 68th minute, the U-23s finally found a breakthrough. Femi intercepted a pass
down the left flank, then played a quick one-two with his midfielder. As the ball was
launched into the middle, the striker, sprinting ahead, latched onto it and slotted it past the
senior keeper. The scoreboard read 3-1.
Despite this momentary surge, the reserves did not let up. In the 82nd minute, they
capitalized on a set piece and scored their fourth goal, a towering header that left Femi
powerless. It was clear that the reserves were a class above, but Femi's performance had
improved drastically from the disastrous first half.
While the final scoreline—4-1—did not reflect a victory, the second half was a marked
improvement. Only one goal had been conceded in the second period compared to three in
the first, and Ajax U-23s had shown more defensive solidity, particularly down the left side,
where Femi had grown into the role. His individual contributions were starting to make an
impact.
After the match, as the players gathered in the locker room, Femi felt a mix of exhaustion
and quiet pride. He had not been perfect, but he had learned. His second-half performance
was a sign of the progress he had made, and that had not gone unnoticed.
Coach Bakker approached him as he laced up his boots. You were not great in the first half,
but you showed something in the second. You are still rough around the edges, but that is
why we are here.
Femi nodded, grateful for the feedback. He was starting to understand what it meant to be
a left-back. He was not just defending. He was reading the game, making decisions. And for
the first time, he could see a future in this position. The first step had been taken.
To be continued…