The semester assessment was a traditional feature of Ajax's youth academy. Two assessment tests were held every year to evaluate the players' form and improvement. In each age group, the five players with the worst results each semester would be eliminated, with new players added during the reorganization at the start of the new semester.
The rigorous assessment standards, brutal elimination rate, and the pressure brought by this constant turnover all made every age group at Ajax fiercely competitive. Every player had to work hard to improve and meet the team's standards.
Even after passing through layer upon layer of selection and elimination, only one in six players in the oldest age group could sign a professional contract with the club and enter Ajax's Second Team, where they would receive a two-year trial period. If they failed to meet the First Team's standards within those two years, they would be forced to leave the club.
It was precisely under this almost brutal competitive system that Ajax produced players at such a high rate. Ninety-five percent of those who passed through the academy's assessments would eventually become professional players, though they might not necessarily play for Ajax.
Almere had studied and adopted Ajax's entire youth-training system, including its semester assessments. However, because of the limited development of its youth teams and the difficulty of recruiting new players, it held only one assessment test each year and eliminated only three players.
Even so, it already placed tremendous pressure on everyone in the club.
Previously, Yang Yang had been the one person everyone considered certain to be eliminated. But over the past month or so, his outstanding performances—especially his increasingly impressive displays in the last four matches—had made him an indispensable member of the youth team. It would no longer be surprising for him to pass the assessment.
There were even rumors within the team that First Team Head Coach John Rep intended to call up Yang Yang, Henk Dimer, and several other outstanding trainees to the First Team in the new semester to train and play with them.
Yang Yang had saved himself, but he had also intensified the competition within the team. The number of elimination spots had increased from two to three, and every player at risk had begun to panic.
Because regular training also counted toward the assessment results, everyone gave it their all on the training ground. Sometimes their movements even became overly aggressive. Even during training, the atmosphere was filled with cutthroat competition.
John Rep and Dick Van Pool silently watched the training from the sidelines. Neither of them tried to stop it.
In their view, the team's training atmosphere had been far too relaxed in the past. This kind of all-out clash was what training was supposed to be.
"Judging from Yang Yang's performance over this period, he shouldn't have much trouble passing the assessment," Dick Van Pool said with satisfaction.
In the past four matches, Baken Academy had won three and lost one, with the only defeat coming against their local rivals, Omnibus. Yang Yang had performed exceptionally well in the last three games, recording an assist in each and playing a major role in the team's three-match winning streak. This delighted the Head Coach.
"His academic results are the best on the team. Even at Baken Academy, he's one of the top students. His speed, agility, explosiveness, and stamina aren't problems, and he's one of the best players on the team in one-on-one offense and defense. His mental strength shouldn't be an issue either."
Dick Van Pool had not realized just how many strengths Yang Yang possessed until he listed them out.
"His biggest problem right now is his basic technique, such as shooting, passing, and crossing."
The assessment was divided into three parts. The coaching staff evaluated regular training and match records, while the final test had the coaching staff score each player's performance in the relevant categories. The categories and scoring standards were all borrowed from Ajax, with twenty subtests in total.
After scoring each subtest, the coaching staff would summarize and evaluate the results, arrive at an assessment score, and then combine it with the records from regular training and matches to produce a final total.
The three players with the highest totals would receive the reward of representing Almere at Ajax's Talent Day selection, while the three players with the lowest totals would be forced to leave the Almere Youth Team.
After hearing Van Pul's report, John Rep nodded slightly. It was more or less in line with his recent evaluation.
As a renowned European right winger, he had grown increasingly interested in Yang Yang, who played the same position. The main reason was that Yang Yang had improved far too quickly and astonishingly over the past month or so.
Even now, Yang Yang's fundamentals were still not very good. He had only barely reached the youth team's passing standard. But he had become increasingly proficient with his Pendulum Dribble, and in the past few interschool matches, not a single player had been able to stop him.
This surprised John Rep, but it also allowed him to clearly see Yang Yang's potential.
After all, Yang Yang was only sixteen. Given his current momentum and his drive to train hard, he might truly surprise everyone.
"There are still a few days before the assessment. You need to prepare well," John Rep reminded them seriously.
"This time, besides officials from the Almere municipal government and some members of the public who regularly cooperate with the club, I've also specially invited a world-class legend to attend in person. He's not usually easy to invite, but he agreed this time. Given his influence in the Netherlands and at Ajax, we have to make sure we showcase the results of our youth training properly."
Dick Van Pul nodded solemnly, but curiosity filled his heart.
Given John Rep's status at Ajax and in the Netherlands, if even he thought this person was difficult to invite, who exactly was this guest?
However, the Head Coach clearly did not intend to reveal it in advance, so he did not press the matter.
"After training ends, tell them that the three best-performing players will not only get the chance to go to Ajax for Talent Day, but the club will also formally sign them to professional contracts. They will join the First Team next season."
Almere was currently at a crucial stage in its push for promotion to the Second Division. If it succeeded, joining the First Team would mean having a chance to play in the Dutch Second Division, which was an enormous temptation for any player.
Even if the club unfortunately failed to earn promotion, playing in the third tier next season would still represent a major step forward for them.
Sure enough, after Dick Van Pool relayed the Head Coach's promise at the end of training, the atmosphere in the team grew even more heated.
Especially the group of standouts led by Henk Dimer. They were already the team's best performers on a regular basis, and now that the Head Coach had offered such an enticing reward, how could they not fight with everything they had?
Yang Yang was drawn in as well. He wanted to fight for one of the spots.
It was not only for the professional contract and the chance to join the First Team, but also for the opportunity to meet his idol, Van Basten.
Ever since he had seen the magnificent Amsterdam Arena with his own eyes, he had dreamed of meeting Van Basten. He wanted to compete on the same field against Ajax's players his age, and even against the talented stars of the First Team.
He really wanted to know exactly how large the gap was between him and the best players his age in the world.
Once he saw the gap clearly, he would have even more motivation.
Over the next few days, Baken Academy had no matches. Yang Yang threw himself into training day and night. Besides attending school, he did not even need to help at the restaurant. Knowing that the semester assessment was imminent, his uncle Shen Ming ordered him to focus entirely on training.
During the day, he trained at the Skate Park, and at night he entered the Super Training Ground. Yang Yang repeatedly practiced the basic movements that others had mastered with ease before they turned ten, not daring to relax for even a moment.
Before he knew it, the morning of the assessment test had arrived.
It was a rare sunny day, with a cloudless sky as blue as if it had just been dyed.
At Old Bing's suggestion, Yang Yang had greatly reduced his morning training at the Skate Park to preserve his condition. Even after training hard all night, he was still full of energy. After calculating the time, he jogged all the way to the training ground while juggling the ball.
The atmosphere in the locker room was noticeably more oppressive than usual. Everyone had their heads down as they organized their jerseys and boots. Not a single person spoke. Even after Yang Yang entered, they merely glanced at him. Many of their expressions were extremely complicated, while only Henk Dimer and the others nodded at him in a friendly manner.
Clearly, they were all determined to finish in the top three and did not feel threatened by Yang Yang.
A little over a month ago, Yang Yang had been publicly recognized as the worst player by everyone. No matter how completely he had transformed, it was impossible for him to make a sudden leap and break into the top three in just over a month.
Fundamentals had to be built up gradually. Yang Yang's rate of improvement was already extremely fast, but catching up in barely a month with players like Henk Dimer, who had trained hard for nearly ten years, was simply impossible.
Yang Yang understood this well, but he was still willing to give it everything he had.
As for some of his teammates who might be eliminated, Yang Yang could sense the unwillingness, envy, and even resentment in their eyes. He could not help feeling sad, but he also knew very clearly that survival of the fittest was the foundation of a team's competitiveness.
Even if Head Coach John Rep softened and kept them, they would only fall further and further behind the team's progress in the future.
The same applied to him.
After changing into his jersey and putting on his boots, Yang Yang walked out of the locker room. Dick Van Pool was outside, encouraging the players one by one as they emerged. When it was Yang Yang's turn, he offered some extra words in addition to his encouragement.
"Mr. Rep asked me to tell you to work hard and show your best side. He believes you can definitely stay."
"Yes. Thank you, Mr. Rep."
"He also said that as long as you pass the assessment, keep working hard, and maintain your current rate of improvement, the club will sign you to a professional contract next season. He'll also transfer you to the First Team when the opportunity arises. Don't let him down."
"I understand." Yang Yang nodded.
He could sense that although John Rep and Dick Van Pool believed in him, they still felt that it would be difficult for him to stand out in the assessment. Otherwise, there would have been no need to make him such a promise in advance.
But the more that was the case, the more he wanted to fight for it.
At the very least, he had to prove that the blood, sweat, and effort he had poured into his hellish training over the past month had not been wasted.
I'm hoping to make a push next week. Please vote for me. Thank you! There will be three updates tomorrow, with one chapter posted at 12:30 a.m.
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