As the game drew to a close, something shifted within Arghana.
His body felt lighter, as though some unseen force was guiding his movements, something beyond just his training or physical strength.
He wasn't thinking. He just reacted.
When the ball came from the wing, a perfect delivery by Khalid Karami, it was as if his body knew what to do before his mind caught up.
There was no hesitation. He surged forward, the world around him seeming to slow down.
When the ball neared him, everything was in perfect focus. His leap was flawless. His header, a sharp, controlled motion, sent the ball sailing effortlessly into the net.
The net rippled.
A roar erupted from the crowd, but Arghana didn't hear it—not really. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by something more profound than the moment.
He dropped to the ground, his body aching from the exertion, breath coming in ragged gasps. But there was a smile on his face, a wide grin that reflected a newfound understanding of what he had just done.
"I really love football," he thought to himself, clenching his fist in silent celebration, even though his body was too tired to move.
But he had no energy left to celebrate.
His teammates swarmed around him, celebrating the goal as if they had just won the final.
The equalizer!
The atmosphere in the stadium shifted in an instant.
What had been a dull game now had all eyes on Arghana, the Indonesian winger who had suddenly become the hero.
In the previous match, Arghana had also scored a crucial last-minute goal.
Today, he'd done it again, changing the game!
With a lack of options up front, Arghana had become the unexpected hero, leveling the score.
This brought Go Ahead Eagles a vital 4 points from two consecutive matches—a significant achievement!
His teammates showered him with praise.
"Bro, you're amazing!"
"You're like Bierhoff! Unstoppable!"
"Perfect header, absolutely unreal!"
==
Eric Ten Hag, standing at the sidelines, looked on in awe.
Watching Arghana, he realized that there was something more than just luck at play.
Arghana wasn't just playing with his body; there was something deeper, something that set him apart from the rest.
However, Ten Hag knew the match wasn't over.
A substitution was needed to preserve the result.
A draw was still better than a loss, but they couldn't afford to be complacent.
The referee signaled for a substitution.
A substitute player stood at the edge of the field, ready to replace the exhausted Arghana.
The crowd cheered again, this time in appreciation of the hero.
Arghana slowly rose from the ground, struggling to fight off the fatigue.
He walked slowly to the touchline, occasionally waving at the fans who continued chanting his name.
As he reached the sideline, Eric Ten Hag greeted him with a warm hug.
Arghana simply nodded, before sitting on the bench, absorbing all the cheers directed at him.
On the other side, SC Cambuur tried to counterattack.
Despite their efforts, their attacks were insufficient to create any real chances.
In the end, the final whistle blew, and Go Ahead Eagles held on to the crucial draw.
==
In the locker room, Arghana clenched his teeth and pumped his fist with enthusiasm.
Two goals in two consecutive games—what an achievement!
More than that, he had just helped secure 4 critical points for the team.
The coaches came over and patted him on the back.
They smiled broadly, giving him thumbs up.
Khalid Karami, who had assisted on the goal, came over and patted his shoulder.
"You were incredible, Arghana. You're our hero today."
"Bro, I told you. Don't overthink it. Just enjoy the game, and you'll keep playing great," he said.
Arghana smiled.
"As long as you keep giving me those great passes, I promise I won't let you down," he replied.
==
On the bus ride home, the atmosphere was more relaxed.
However, Eric Ten Hag, sitting in the front, occasionally glanced back at Arghana, sitting alone.
After a while, he decided to speak with him during the next training session.
Ten Hag knew that Arghana's goal wasn't just a lucky strike.
There was something more to it.
Arghana had incredible physical ability, but there was something deeper than just fitness.
That's what Ten Hag wanted to explore further.
On the bus, the other players talked about their plans for the weekend, discussing how they would spend their time after getting home.
Most of the older players seemed more realistic.
For them, football was just a job.
No more big dreams.
But for Arghana, that was far from the reality.
He wasn't ready to accept his fate so easily.
No, he wanted more than that!
Sitting in the back of the bus, Arghana stared out the window.
His phone buzzed, and he texted his mom to let her know everything was fine.
He also told his dad that he'd scored again and helped the team secure important points.
But as he sent the message, his thoughts drifted. A strange feeling rose within him again.
When he was on the field, especially in the 80th minute of the match, he had felt a shift in himself.
His body felt faster, more responsive, and every opponent's move seemed easier to read.
But that feeling... that feeling was something he couldn't explain.
It was as if something had suddenly unlocked a potential he hadn't known was there.
"Is this because of training? Or is there something bigger at play?" he wondered.
All of this felt foreign, but at the same time, it felt very real.
And when he looked up information about the flow state, he found many intriguing things, though he didn't fully understand how it related to him.
What confused him the most was why this strange feeling only appeared during the final minutes of the match?
Why did he feel so... different when the game became more intense?
Arghana knew this was just the beginning.
Whatever it was, he felt that something else was influencing him, something he hadn't yet fully grasped.