Chapter 50: Half-season champion
Back in Genk, the weather had entered the early winter season, with temperatures much lower than Kuala Lumpur. Wang Feng, feeling exhausted, began some recovery training under the guidance of Abel Le Goff. He was still adjusting to the jet lag. for new novels
Tomorrow is the 16th round of the Jupiler Pro League, also the last round of the first half of the season. Genk will host newly promoted team Waasland-Beveren. Head coach Aimee Antonis decided to bench Wang Feng because his condition was indeed poor.
As the game started, although Genk controlled the situation on the field, they couldn't break through Waasland-Beveren's defense. In the 51st minute of the second half, Waasland-Beveren launched a counterattack, with forward Alberto Lou scoring a goal. Genk was in a disadvantageous situation!
The home fans in the stands gradually became restless, chanting Wang Feng's name, which grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the stadium.
Coach Aimee Antonis hadn't expected that Wang Feng had reached such a level in the hearts of the fans because he never disappointed. It seemed that as long as Wang Feng appeared on the field, all problems would be solved.
In the 78th minute, Wang Feng was substituted onto the field, and thunderous applause erupted from the stands. Everyone cheered him on, hoping Wang Feng would work another miracle.
Wang Feng, who had just entered the field, obviously hadn't fully recovered. His movements were not as sharp as before, but they were enough to make Waasland-Beveren wary. With all the attention on Wang Feng, it created opportunities for others.
Five minutes after coming on, Wang Feng received a pass from midfielder Bess in the frontcourt, turned away from the defending players, skillfully dodged the challenges, and charged into the penalty area.
Wang Feng's speed this time wasn't fast, so the defenders from Waasland-Beveren blocked his path near the edge of the penalty area. Wang Feng used the outside of his right foot to curve the ball, which formed a strange arc on the ground, just evading the blocking defenders and reaching Jason Aldridge in the penalty area.
After the morning training session, Wang Feng returned to the dorm, packed his luggage, and headed straight to the airport to fly to Oostende with Le Goff.
As soon as they landed, Wang Feng felt the sea breeze accompanied by a strong smell. Truly a port city. Unlike the dry and cold Genk, even in December, the temperature in Oostende wasn't very low. He felt a bit hot even in thick clothes.
Without delay, they headed to the seaside villa. Upon arrival, it was indeed as described by Balmond, a beautiful place.
The villa was located in a small villa community, all two-story buildings. The ground floor was a large living-dining room with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. More importantly, there was a heated swimming pool outdoors, not very large but enough for regular swimming training.
The basement was a large gym with all the training equipment one could need, comparable to Genk's training room.
The second floor had four rooms, with the largest room having a panoramic sliding glass door leading to a large balcony facing the sea and the beach. Looking from the balcony, the sea and sky formed a picturesque scene, and one could also see tourists playing on the beach.
Unable to resist, Wang Feng asked Balmond beside him, "Balmond, how much does this house cost? I can't help but want to buy one." Balmond laughed and said, "It's not very expensive, only 150,000 euros for one. But the annual taxes and management fees are quite expensive."
Hearing this, Wang Feng dismissed the idea. 150,000 euros wasn't too expensive for his current self, but he could only live there for a few days a year and would have to bear the complicated other expenses. Renting seemed more reasonable.
After a brief rest, Wang Feng began training according to Le Goff's plan. Unlike the training ground at Genk, there was no dedicated football training area here, so Wang Feng focused on fitness, yoga, and swimming to improve his physical fitness and endurance.
Of course, he couldn't neglect football entirely. Wang Feng would practice keepy-uppies in the villa's backyard, not just with his feet but also with his knees, shoulders, and head, which would help improve his ball control on the field.
Days passed quickly, and during Christmas, Wang Feng rarely trained, instead joining everyone in town to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. He sampled the seafood of Oostende, which was freshly caught and delicious. He couldn't resist eating a bit more, so he had to make up for his indulgence with extra training.