Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 122: Principal Wang Earnestly Invites Zheng Xiao to Coach the School Team

One-nil. In the twenty-ninth minute of the match, the Class 10 football team broke the deadlock.

The goal was scored by Xu He.

After scoring, Xu He turned and roared at Zhuo Jun and Xu Donglai, "The Class 10 football team is the strongest in Jinguan City No. 17 High School!"

The implication was clear: only they deserved the league title. The Class 16 football team's championship was unearned and undeserved.

Zhuo Jun's expression darkened instantly, his gaze turning razor-sharp as he stared fixedly at Xu He. Xu He did not flinch, locking eyes with him just as intensely. After a long moment, Zhuo Jun spoke: "Don't celebrate too early; the match isn't over yet. I will show you the true strength of a league champion!"

With that, Zhuo Jun turned immediately to direct his players in an attack. Xu Donglai also glared at Xu He for a long moment before finally shifting his gaze.

The atmosphere of the match seemed to change drastically from this point on. Both sides played with greater intensity, urgency, and effort; naturally, the physical challenges became harsher, and the air grew thick with tension.

"Well? How do you rate the boys from our school?" Principal Wang suddenly asked from the stands.

Zheng Xiao, standing beside him, was watching the match with deep focus, appearing somewhat captivated. To be honest, this football match at Jinguan City No. 17 High School had exceeded his expectations. Although he could still identify players who were merely making up the numbers, those who could actually play impressed him; their natural talent and the ability they displayed were quite remarkable.

Could these be the prospects his senior had mentioned—the talented players worth cultivating?

Hearing the voice beside him, he nodded slightly and said, "A few of them are indeed quite good; they possess genuine talent. I never expected your school to harbor such gems. They are truly impressive."

The corners of Principal Wang's mouth lifted as he asked, "Then, Coach Zheng, which of these children do you think has the most potential?"

Previously, Song Yu had favored Xu Donglai, holding him in high regard. He had even considered recommending Xu Donglai to Yunhai Athletics for advanced professional training. However, Principal Wang had rejected the idea at the time. The principal had his own agenda; he wanted the school team to perform brilliantly in the national tournament, and naturally, he wanted to keep all the talented, high-performing players for himself. He had no desire to let Xu Donglai leave.

Song Yu had sensed the principal's intentions and refrained from approaching Xu Donglai directly. Instead, he promised to recommend a few excellent youth coaches to come to Jinguan City No. 17 High School to nurture these youngsters. The man before him, Zheng Xiao, was the candidate Song Yu had in mind. Unfortunately, it seemed the school lacked the good fortune to reach an agreement with this coach.

Zheng Xiao observed carefully before saying, "I think the number 17 player from the Class 10 team is quite excellent. He has great talent. I feel it is a waste for him to remain in this school; he should be receiving professional football training."

Principal Wang was stunned, his eyes widening.

He never expected Zheng Xiao to take an interest in Xu He! Wasn't Xu He just a substitute? And hadn't his goal been a result of sheer luck? Was Zheng Xiao favoring him based solely on that one lucky play? He suddenly felt that Zheng Xiao’s judgment was far inferior to Song Yu's. How could Xu He be better than Xu Donglai? He wasn't even on the same level as Zhuo Jun or Lin Xuefeng!

Zheng Xiao smiled slightly and said, "I have high hopes for this kid. His total commitment on the pitch, his positive, never-say-die fighting spirit, and his intense hunger for goals... I admire all of these qualities deeply. These are things not everyone possesses!"

Hearing this, Principal Wang suddenly felt that Xu He wasn't so mediocre after all; he even began to wonder if the boy was indeed a remarkable talent.

Zheng Xiao continued, "Technical fundamentals can be practiced, but a spirit that refuses to lose, fears no difficulty, and fights bravely is extremely hard to cultivate. Especially that constant hunger for goals—that is something that simply cannot be taught..."

Principal Wang’s eyes widened. Was Zheng Xiao’s assessment of Xu He really that high?

"As long as this kid receives consistent, professional training, his future will be limitless! This boy is a genius!" Zheng Xiao declared.

Principal Wang was left speechless. He couldn't fathom why Zheng Xiao would rate Xu He so highly. He tentatively asked, "Don't you think Xu Donglai is more talented? Your senior, Coach Song Yu, seems to hold Xu Donglai in higher regard."

Zheng Xiao was not surprised by this. "Xu Donglai's talent is indeed strong. He is a very, very good prospect, and I was tempted by him as well—I hoped to take him to a professional team for training. But compared to him, I favor Xu He more. Or rather, I appreciate and like Xu He more. That is just my personal view and perspective."

Principal Wang nodded slightly, beginning to understand.

Zheng Xiao continued, "Given the current state of football in China, what we lack most are excellent strikers. Our national team and various clubs can barely find a decent forward because that position in every league team is occupied by foreign players. We have few local strikers, and fewer still who are talented. Personally, I prioritize young, talented forward players because that is what Chinese football needs most."

Principal Wang nodded continuously, finally understanding the reasoning. His eyes suddenly brightened. "In that case, Coach Zheng, why not stay and help cultivate an excellent striker for Chinese football?"

Principal Wang hoped to use Xu He to keep Zheng Xiao at the school. Zheng Xiao seemed slightly moved, but he soon declined with a bitter smile. "I'm sorry, Principal Wang. I have a detailed plan for my future, and my focus is not on school football right now. If you truly want me to help Xu He, I can recommend him to clubs in the top five European leagues, where he can receive more advanced and professional training..."

Principal Wang sighed. It was as he had feared. He offered a wry smile to Zheng Xiao and said, "So, Coach Zheng will not be staying after all. In that case, I must ask you to recommend some excellent youth coaches to our school, so that we do not squander the potential of these talented children."

Zheng Xiao knew that sending a player abroad was a complicated and expensive endeavor. It would be very difficult for Xu He, and his family might not even entertain the idea. He couldn't impulsively recommend Xu He for an overseas move. So, hearing the principal's request, he nodded slightly. "Rest assured, Principal Wang. For the sake of these promising prospects, I will certainly recommend some excellent talent."

Principal Wang thanked him immediately. He hoped this could be handled quickly, as the school team selection was approaching, and he wanted the matter settled. He had wanted to chat more, but seeing Zheng Xiao glued to the match, he decided not to disturb him.

On the pitch, the match was nearing its end. The Class 16 football team had tried to attack after conceding, but the results were poor. Not only did they fail to threaten the Class 10 goal, but they also left their own defense vulnerable, nearly conceding again.

Just moments ago, Zhang Zhen had received a pass from Xu He in the penalty area. The resulting explosive shot was incredibly dangerous; had it not been for a heroic save by Xu Donglai, they would have conceded.

Zhuo Jun waved his arms, signaling his teammates to stabilize the defense and wait for a counterattacking opportunity. Yes, Zhuo Jun had not given up. It was clear he was desperate for victory. He wanted to prove to the entire school that their league title was earned through skill, not luck. He believed that if they could beat Class 10 once, they could do it again and again.

Zhuo Jun was incredibly active on defense, working tirelessly and organizing the backline to keep it rock-solid. Even Xu He, who was playing with a desperate intensity, couldn't find many opportunities; Zhuo Jun was truly displaying superior ability.

In the stands, Zheng Xiao’s eyes lit up. "This Zhuo Jun's ability is quite good, and his talent is also strong!"

Zheng Xiao was truly astonished. How could this ordinary middle school have so many promising prospects? It seemed China was not lacking in talent, but rather in the eyes to discover it and the conditions to nurture it. His heart felt heavy.

On the pitch, the Class 10 team was attacking frantically. Deng Ning in midfield saw Xu He making a run—a golden opportunity. He immediately launched a long pass toward him. But Zhuo Jun had anticipated this; he intercepted the ball with a sudden tackle and sent a long, diagonal pass to Song Xiang, who was sprinting down the flank.

A counterattack! The Class 16 team was on the move again, utilizing the same tactic and the same play, targeting Song Xiang on the wing. It was their only real offensive threat. Although the tactic was predictable, the Class 10 team had been so obsessed with attacking that they had neglected their defense, inadvertently giving Song Xiang a chance. The Class 10 players panicked, scrambling to chase him down in a moment of great danger.

Song Xiang dribbled at high speed toward the penalty area. By the time he reached the edge, the Class 10 defense had largely recovered. Lacking confidence in his ability to beat the remaining defenders, he opted for a long-range shot. The ball whistled through the air, slamming against the goalpost and bouncing out of play.

Song Xiang’s shot had nearly breached the Class 10 goal. The Class 16 players were left in a cold sweat—it was too close; they had nearly been equalized. Xu He stared at Zhuo Jun and Song Xiang with lingering fear, muttering to himself, "Who said the Class 16 team has no offense?"

Their counterattacks were sharp indeed. Zhu Ge immediately reminded his teammates to defend properly and not give away any more chances. With the Class 16 team tightening their defense, Class 10 struggled to find opportunities. Zhuo Jun sighed; it seemed they were destined to lose this match.

There wasn't much time left, but Xu He continued to attack frantically, desperate for another goal. This was exactly what Zheng Xiao admired about him.

As the match neared its end, Xu He received a pass from Zhu Ge at the edge of the penalty area. He feigned a cross, slightly throwing Zhuo Jun off balance, and then unleashed a powerful shot. The ball screeched toward the Class 16 goal.

Zhuo Jun and Xu Donglai felt a chill run down their spines. "Danger!" they thought.