C9 Reporting

"Do you mean to say that their head coach is highly skilled and capable of devising new tactical formations? But he's just a low-level coach," the host expressed, puzzled by Anthony's commentary.

"Well, it just goes to show that there are masters among the common folk. This team isn't just full of geniuses; they also have the guidance of a true expert. I suspect they'll be the dark horse of this tournament," Anthony explained.

Despite a commanding three-nil lead, the game was far from over. However, it soon fell into a lull. The players from Millenium High were visibly shaken after conceding three straight goals.

Even during the halftime break, their coach couldn't lift the team's spirits.

With the Copy Card's effect gone and a three-goal advantage, Lucian's team, as Anthony had predicted, focused solely on defense, not giving the opposition any openings. This made the remaining hour of the game uneventful.

The crowd started to nod off until the final three minutes when Lucian made another substitution, bringing Abram back onto the pitch. In the last minute, Millenium High slipped up, and Lucian's team pounced on the mistake.

As the referee was about to blow the final whistle, Abram swiftly delivered the ball into the back of the net, sealing a four-nil victory.

Given it was an amateur game with a significant score gap, the referee didn't add any injury time, and the match ended with a whistle, concluding the one-sided affair.

At that moment, Lucian let go of all his restraints, dashed to the center of the field, and laughed heartily towards the heavens. It had been eighteen years since he'd last savored the feeling of victory. Lucian, in that instant, was the undisputed king of the pitch.

"The outcome is quite unexpected. If Coach Wayne can't quickly restore his players' confidence, their upcoming games will be tough. This defeat is a heavy blow for these young players," Anthony reflected.

The match was over, but Anthony's commentary was not yet complete. As per the protocol, he was to provide a summary post-match.

"Mr. Anthony, look!" the host exclaimed.

As Anthony continued to detail the match's highlights and discuss the impact on both teams, the host interrupted, and the camera shifted back to the scene of the action.

Despite the loss, Wayne was gracious in defeat. Witnessing Lucian and his team's jubilation, he made his way over to Lucian to offer heartfelt congratulations on their victory and commended Lucian's strategy and his players' performance.

The coaches and representatives from the professional clubs, invited by the provincial team, eagerly approached Lucian to extend their greetings. The accompanying school leaders were beaming with joy.

To them, this was a clear mark of success. These astute school officials understood that the guests were impressed by the performance of Suren and his teammates.

Producing professional players from their institution would be a feather in the cap for the leaders responsible for the competition. Such an achievement would undoubtedly enhance their resumes and significantly aid in their future career advancement.

However, in the midst of this jubilant celebration, Rhys made an unexpected appearance on the field. His first words nearly drove the leaders to fury.

"I'm reporting a violation! Sandalwood School's team has cheated in this competition! They aren't even eligible to compete!"

With representatives from the provincial football association and the provincial team present, Rhys's arrival turned the atmosphere from warm to icy in an instant.

"What is the meaning of this? Who is this man?"

A vice president of the provincial football association inquired, turning to the vice principal of Sandalwood School, the highest-ranking school official present.

"Moses, he's our PE teacher. He was originally in charge of our school team, but due to his capabilities, we decided to appoint Mr. Lucian as the head coach instead. He's probably feeling slighted, which is why he's causing a scene," explained the vice principal before turning to glare at Rhys.

"Rhys! What are you doing? Get back to the school immediately!"

Rhys had timed his intervention for when the team was victorious, intending to strip them of their right to compete. Had the school lost today, he would have simply returned without making a scene.

"Moses, please hear me out. I'm not spouting nonsense. I've already submitted my resignation to the school. I'm no longer the PE teacher at Sandalwood School. This means the school doesn't meet the eligibility requirements to compete. They don't even have a professional coach."

Rhys's statement sent shockwaves through the crowd. If his claims held true, then the outcome of today's match would be invalid.

"Principal Wang, is there any truth to what he's saying?"

This was no trivial issue. Hearing Moses' inquiry, Principal Wang's sweat dripped onto the grass below.

"I'm not entirely sure about Rhys's resignation; I haven't seen any letter to that effect."

Vice Principal Wang wasn't one to be easily outmaneuvered. Lucian had been a county resident for nearly two decades, and not once had he heard of Lucian being a professional football coach. His strategy was clear: dispute Rhys's resignation. If he could maintain that he never accepted Rhys's resignation, there might be a way out of this predicament.

"Moses, I may have a contract with the school, but I haven't been here long. To put it plainly, I'm not yet a tenured teacher; I'm just a temp. So, if I decide to resign, I don't need the school's consent!"

Rhys finished with a smug look towards Lucian, who, to his surprise, didn't even spare him a glance.

"Moses, we've actually submitted a report to the Department of Education and are in the process of securing a permanent position for Teacher Rhys. However, since he's only been with us for about a month, the approval hasn't come through yet."

"The issue with the education system is separate from this competition. I'm asking you, aside from Teacher Rhys, does your school have any other teachers with coaching qualifications from the Asian Football Confederation?"

Moses cut off Vice Principal Wang's defense with a stern question.

"Well..."

With the situation at this juncture, Moses fully grasped that Rhys was intent on causing serious trouble for the school. Sandalwood School faced three options: persuade Rhys to stay, face disqualification from the competition—rendering their recent victory null—or prove they had another teacher with coaching credentials.

But given the vice principal's reaction, it seemed unlikely they had another qualified teacher. Their head coach, Lucian, was probably just a football enthusiast rather than a certified coach, or they would have mentioned it.

With no other recourse, Vice Principal Wang reluctantly shifted his attention to Lucian, and all eyes in the room followed suit.

After pausing to reflect for a moment, he slowly shook his head.

"Indeed, I do not possess a coaching qualification certificate from the Asian Football Confederation."