The morning headlines hit like a thunderclap.
"CITY STAR KHALI IN SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH JOURNALIST AMIRA – PROFESSIONAL BIAS OR TRUE LOVE?"
Khali's phone wouldn't stop vibrating.Messages. Missed calls. Mentions all over social media.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the headline, his chest tightening.The photos weren't even scandalous — just him and Amira walking at the station, smiling, her hand brushing his arm. But the captions made it sound like betrayal.
The academy director called immediately."Khali, we need to talk. You know how this looks — a player dating a journalist covering him? The club won't like this kind of distraction."
Khali barely spoke. "She's not just a journalist, sir. She's my friend."
"Then make sure she stays that way — at least publicly," the director warned. "You've got a derby next week. Focus on that."
When the call ended, Khali felt a storm building inside him.
The Wrong Kind of Attention
Training that day was tense.Teammates whispered. Reporters camped outside the gate.And to make things worse, Bello had posted a cheeky story on his social media:
"Guess some people play better when they've got love in the stands 😉❤️ #NoDistractions #ManUnitedStrong."
Khali saw it.His jaw clenched.So Bello thinks this is a joke now?
Amira's Tears
That evening, Amira called him, her voice shaky."Khali, I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't leak anything! Someone from the magazine must have—"
"I know," he interrupted gently. "But the club's upset. Everyone's looking at us differently."
There was silence on the line. Then she whispered, "Should we… stop talking for a while?"
The thought cut through him like glass."Amira, you mean more to me than all of this noise. Don't let them change that."
Her voice broke. "But I don't want to ruin your dream, Khali."
He hesitated. "You're part of my dream now."
The Derby of Fire
The following weekend, the youth Manchester Derby returned — City vs. United.It wasn't just another game. It was Khali vs. Bello — now with the whole world watching.
The tabloids called it "Love vs. Loyalty."
As the teams lined up, Bello gave him a smirk."Hope your girlfriend's watching," he said under his breath. "Might see what a real striker looks like."
Khali didn't reply. His eyes were cold, focused.
The whistle blew.
From the start, it was chaos — tackles flying, fans roaring. Bello scored first again, his trademark celebration pointed straight at Khali.
But Khali didn't crumble. He fought back — passing, pressing, leading like never before.
In the 85th minute, with the score 2–2, City earned a penalty. The stadium fell silent as Khali stepped up.
He took a deep breath.He thought of home.He thought of Amira.He thought of every person who said he couldn't.
The whistle blew — and he struck.Perfect. Low and hard.Goal. 3–2. City wins.
After the Storm
When the match ended, the crowd erupted. Khali dropped to his knees, relief flooding through him.As he looked to the stands, he saw her — Amira, smiling through tears, clapping softly among the chaos.
Later that night, they met by the River Irwell, away from the noise.She whispered, "You were incredible."
Khali smiled. "So were you — for believing in me."
She laughed softly. "You didn't need my belief. You already had your destiny."
He took her hand gently. "Maybe. But destiny feels better when someone's waiting for you at the finish line."
A Silent Rivalry
A few days later, Bello texted him.
Bello: "You played well, bro. I mean it. But I'm not done yet."Khali: "Neither am I. See you at the top."
They both knew what that meant — the rivalry wasn't hate. It was fuel.They'd push each other higher, even from opposite sides.
As Khali looked out at the Manchester skyline, the wind carried the sounds of a city divided — red and blue — but his heart was calm.
He had love. He had purpose.And the dream that started on a dusty field in Zangola was far from over.