THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

As promised, Zachary received both his Ivorian passport and first-class air ticket to Abidjan within the next two days. He also met an official from the Ivory Coast Embassy in Italy, who explained issues concerning his citizenship switch to him.

The Ivorian Embassy official mentioned that Zachary would be entitled to several benefits, including match bonuses and travel allowances, among other perks, while playing for the Ivorian National Football team. As a true-blue Ivory Coast citizen, Zachary could also enjoy all the privileges that all Ivorians were entitled to. Whether it was buying land in Ivory Coast or voting, he could enjoy all those rights whenever he wished. And as a surprise, the official mentioned something about the Ivorian government offering Zachary some tax cuts and tax holidays if he ever decided to settle down in Ivory Coast and start businesses there.

The Ivorians were sure trying to make Zachary feel welcome on the Côte d'Ivoire National Football team. But, of course, there was a catch. He had to first represent their country well during international football competitions like the World Cup before he could enjoy the most rewarding benefits. There was no way around that.

After ending the meeting with the Ivorian Embassy official, Zachary readily returned his focus to training. He joined his teammates at the Vinovo, and together, they spent the next few days refining tactics and sharpening the game plan for their upcoming home Serie A game against Genoa.

As they trained, the hours turned into days, and the eve of the game arrived much quicker than they had expected. They ended their training early, at around 3:00 PM on that Saturday. They washed up and rested for about an hour before heading to the tactical room to attend Coach Max Allegri's pre-match strategy meeting.

Like always, Coach Max Allegri didn't spend much time explaining the tactics that day. He only highlighted a few main points of the game plan to ensure that his players were in the right mindset before the game. After that, he read out the line-up that included his most skilled players like Patrice Evra, Chiellini, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Marchisio, Zachary, Andrea Pirlo, and Carlos Tevez. Then finally, after assigning individual roles, he faced the crowd and started talking about the significance of the game against Genoa with a solemn tone.

"Lads!" The coach said, sweeping his gaze across his players. "We're only two and a half wins away from winning the Serie A title. We're just a step away from making history and winning the Italian League with eight matches remaining before the end of the season. We could be champions as early as Saturday, April 11th, 2015, if we could attain two victories and a draw in our next three games. What we have to do to achieve our hopes seems simple on paper. But if we falter and lose focus at this crucial moment, everything we've worked for all season might blow up in smoke. In the worst case, our fall from grace would start with losing a single game, and our momentum would falter. We would then struggle in the matches that follow, and the cycle would go on — until the very point when the trophy we were sure to win escapes our grasp."

"Guys!" Coach Max Allegri continued. "I know that it's hard to imagine us faltering and losing our overwhelming 27-point lead. I know that it's hard to visualize our team losing nine of the remaining eleven Serie A games and squandering our chance to win another title. But guys, as professionals, we should all know that anything can happen this late in the season."

"Some teams are struggling to avoid relegation, others are fighting to gain a spot to play Champions League and Europa League football, and the remaining few wish to end their season well with a good position on the Serie A table. All those teams will be tough opponents when we chance upon them, especially since they will be willing to do everything possible to go home with a point or three after a game. They will ensure that we sweat and struggle hard to score any goal while out there on the pitch."

"How do we overcome them? Simple! We remain focused! We remain hardworking! We remain motivated! We prepare and play each of our next three games as if they are all finals. We do what we have been doing all seasons and play with the sole intent of winning. That's how we remain ahead of everybody else and win the Serie A title. That's how we become Champions! Do you guys feel me? Are you with me?"

"Yes, coach!" The players replied more or less in unison.

"Are you with me?" The coach asked again in an even louder voice.

"Yes, coach! We're with you." The players roared back to match their coach's enthusiasm. They all seemed quite motivated after listening to their coach's little speech.

"Nice!" Coach Max Allegri inhaled deeply and narrowed his eyes. "Everything starts tomorrow. Our quest to become champions in the shortest time possible will begin when we face Genoa at 3:00 PM tomorrow. What are we to do? Simple! We play as usual and render our opponents powerless in the face of our individual brilliance and formidable teamwork. We play with enough drive and work hard from the first minute of the game so that our opponents will find it almost unimaginable to get even a draw from the match. We overwhelm them and thrash them so hard — and in so doing, we build up more momentum for the upcoming games. That is all we have to do, and we'll still be on the right course to win the Serie A title within the next three games..."

The coach spent fifteen more minutes voicing out encouraging words to his players. Then, after ensuring that his message had hit home, he said his goodbyes to his players and sent them back to their homes for the night.

After the tactics meeting ended, Zachary hurriedly stood up and followed the two coaches - Max Allegri and Maurizio Trombetta. He caught up with the coaches as they turned into the hallway heading to the offices and then wasted no time requesting a small discussion with them.

The coaches had no reason to deny his request. They readily invited him to Coach Max Allegri's office and offered him a seat.

"So, Zachary!" Coach Allegri exchanged a glance with his assistant and spoke first. "What is this about? Why do you wish to meet us on the eve of an important game? Is there a problem?"

"Coach!" Zachary spoke in his somewhat strained Italian. "I'm not facing any challenges at the moment. But I just wanted to inform you that I will travel away from Turin to represent my country during the international break."

Coach Max Allegri wrinkled his brows. "So, the rumors are true. You'll represent Côte d'Ivoire."

"Yes, that's true," Zachary replied. "I'll play for Côte d'Ivoire during the upcoming international friendlies."

Coach Max Allegri nodded. "When do you wish to travel? And when will you be returning?"

"I will take a night flight from Turin to Abidjan the day after tomorrow. Then, if everything proceeds according to plan, I should return to Turin eight days later, on Wednesday, April 1st, 2015. That will be three days before our game against Empoli."

"Oh!" Coach Max Allegri narrowed his eyes and glanced at the calendar on his table. He then turned his gaze back to Zachary and asked, "Can't you return earlier? Just remember that we're at a sensitive point of the season. All teams we face will go all out to stop us from winning the trophy this early in the season. We need all our crucial players, including you, to train adequately for the games."

"Coach!" Zachary said. "I understand all that. But still, it will be impossible for me to return to Turin before April 1st. Ivory Coast's game against Equatorial Guinea is on Sunday, March 29th. After the game, I'll have to rest on the 30th before taking an evening flight from Abidjan to Turin on the 31st. Coach! As you can see, I have already cut my schedule short in order to return to Turin and join the preparations for our game against Empoli as soon as possible. I can't cut it any further."

Coach Allegri's brows remained creased. He inhaled deeply again and said, "Okay! I understand, Zachary. You're, of course, free to go and represent your country. But please take care of yourself while out there. Protect yourself from injuries during matches, and avoid overstraining yourself. As you already said, you'll be playing international friendlies. So, there's no point pushing yourself hard and hurting yourself at this crucial point of the season. Understood?"

"I understand, coach!" Zachary said. "I will do my best to protect myself while out there. More than anything, I also wish to continue performing well both in the Serie A and Champions League."

"Good!" Coach Allegri smiled for the first time. "I'm glad you understand. After here, you can email human resources about the issue. I'll give the go-ahead, and they will readily accept your request to travel to Ivory Coast on Monday."

"Thanks for your consideration, coach," Zachary said with a smile.

"No need for thanks." Coach Allegri's smile brightened. He then talked with Zachary about other issues, including his training challenges and personal life. Then, about thirty minutes later, they ended their conversation on a positive note and went their own ways.