The alarm rang.
Jaden opened his eyes, made his way to the bathroom, and brushed his teeth. "Mr Tau told me to meet him where we last met, if I'm not mistaken. What should I wear though? Formal? Yeah, hell no, that's not my style. I'll go for the basic."
Jaden headed to the shower, got dressed, and rushed out of his house. He arrived at the local sports ground where a fancy four-door vehicle was waiting for him.
The back window slid down, revealing Mr Tau, dressed in a grey suit with a red tie and black glasses.
"Hey Jaden, get in. We're late."
Jaden entered the car, and after an hour of travel they arrived at Nobles FC Stadium, the Majesty Arena. A massive, newly built venue, it lived up to its name with grandeur and modern design, a stadium worthy of the modern-day game. Upon arrival, they were ushered straight into the conference room.
"Mr Tau, where are we going? To meet the team?" Jaden asked.
"Uhm, no. We're going to the press conference where you will be unveiled," replied Mr Tau.
"Oh wait… what?" whispered Jaden, as they entered the room, greeted by flashing lights and clicking cameras.
As Jaden and Mr Tau took their seats, journalists began firing questions.
"Where's the manager?"
"Do you think he's the best candidate for the job?"
"Director Tau, is that your son?"
Mr Tau raised his hand. "No, he's not my son. This is the new manager. Everyone, meet Jaden Senzo, the new manager of Nobles FC."
The journalists burst out laughing. "Never a dull moment with Director Tau, ha ha ha," one of them joked.
Mr Tau waited for them to settle down. When they realized he wasn't laughing, the mood shifted.
"He's serious," another journalist whispered.
"Yes, I am serious…" said Mr Tau.
The room fell silent for a moment before chaos erupted again, cameras flashing, questions shouted all at once.
Jaden sat nervously at first, but then remembered: "Show weakness in a match, and the opponent will punish you." He steadied himself, calmed his nerves, and stood his ground.
"Please, one at a time," Jaden said loudly. The room quieted, and journalists raised their hands.
"Yes, you at the back," Jaden pointed.
"Rick Mabena, The Daily Rain. Is this a prank? I find it hard to believe whatever is going on here. You have no experience, probably never played the game professionally, and now this? Surely this is a joke."
The room erupted in laughter again.
Mr Tau thought, "I may have to stop this conference. I'm not sure the kid can handle the press" .
But Jaden spoke firmly. "Mr Mabena, yes, everything you said about me is true. But this is not a prank. There's a reason I'm here, and you'll see it in my first game."
Jaden leaned forward. "Next question… yes, you there in the front."
The journalist stood. "May I ask, how old are you?"
"Twenty-one," Jaden replied firmly. "But make no mistake, everything will be proven in my first match."
The journalist smirked. "Bold words. We'll see soon enough."
Meanwhile, at Jaden's house…
His little sister Kamo and his father were watching the broadcast.
"Mom! You need to see this, it's Jaden!" yelled Kamo.
"My son… new manager of Nobles FC?" whispered his father.
Jaden's mother rushed in, and when she saw her son live on television, she couldn't help but jump around with joy.
At Royalty Training Centre, the Nobles FC first team were seen watching the press conference during training.
"What the hell? How old is this kid?" one player muttered.
"This is bullshit. Do they forget we're in the relegation zone?" said Riley Pieterson.
"Ain't no way I'm taking a pay cut when we go down," another player grumbled.
News spread across social media and beyond. The unveiling became the number one most-streamed broadcast worldwide. People from other countries tuned in, shocked to see a 21-year-old hired as manager.
The press conference ended with Jaden Senzo signing his contract, officially becoming the youngest manager in football history and the new manager of Nobles FC.
Across the South African Premiership, rival clubs reacted. Some laughed, others were intrigued. The league had never been so entertaining. But for Nobles FC fans, fury burned hotter than hope.