“So give me the scoop! Tell me all about the new coach!” I demand as Rose and I walk along Potsdam Road under the warm sun.

“I will, I will, I’ve just got to do something first,” Rose says seriously. 

Then she stops, puts her arms around my neck and pulls me into a delicious kiss.

“There,” she says, “now I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I say dreamily. I’ve totally forgotten what we were talking about.

Rose smiles mischievously and I grin right back at her. 

“Ok, ok, sexy lady, my memory is returning! So before you distract me again, you’d better tell me about the coach.”

Rose is about to answer when we reach Mr. Isaac’s stall on the corner. He’s sitting outside on a lawn chair, listening to the radio. 

“Nathi! Rose! How about a cooldrink?”

I nod gratefully – it’s so incredibly hot – and Mr. Isaac hands us each a bottle from the icebox at his feet as we chat and catch up on his news. When he starts listening to the radio again, Rose and I stroll over and sit on a large truck tyre that has been abandoned on the side of the road.

I take off my shoes and dig my bare feet into the soft, warm dirt. Rose slides her small toes through the dirt and touches my feet with hers. I like that I’m getting used to this closeness between us.

“So I hear the new coach is German,” Rose says, “and that he used to be a professional.” 

She takes a sip of the cooldrink and sighs, “Mmm, great, that’s ice cold.”

“How did you find that out?” I ask. 

Rose smiles. “I have my ways and means. I’m writing a story on street soccer and I interviewed Mr. Naidoo.”

Since I first started going out with Rose she’s wanted to be a lawyer, a doctor, a social worker and an astronomer. I find it fascinating that she’s interested in so many things. Especially since I’ve only ever wanted to play soccer. Her latest passion is for journalism, which is quite helpful considering it’s due to her current obsession that she’s found out the answers to the questions buzzing in my head. 

“Hmmm. That’s amazing! But I wonder why Mr. Naidoo wants to hire a new coach,” I wonder out loud.

“He told me it’s because Streetskillz did so well against the Iron Maidens and the Dragons that he thinks you guys can win the street soccer championships,” Rose explains.

“I wonder who this German guy is…” I rub my chin as I mentally scroll through the great German soccer heroes.

“I wrote his name down, but I can’t remember off the top of my head…,” Rose says, “Rinkico, Ranuker…”

“Reinecker?” I gasp, my mouth opening wide in disbelief, “Karl Reinecker?” 

Rose snaps her fingers, “That’s it Nathi, Karl Reinecker.”

I shake my head in amazement. Karl Reinecker, top goal-scorer and one of the best strikers Germany has ever had is going to be coaching me?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is a change of coach good for a team in the middle of the season?