Slightly past 15., after almost two hour long journey, I finally landed on Stavanger Airport. A trip passed really nice, and unexpectedly easy for my stomach. I'll especially remember huge... eyes of one of air hostesses. I realised, that I should quickly learn their language, cause I couldn't communicate with all these Norwegian ladies. Such a shame. They weren't even a little less beautiful, then Polish girls. I was suprised about it. On the airport, after I passed passport control, and got my luggage back, I saw a man, with white-red coloured board with an inscription: Konrad-POLSKA. Yep, that was my uncle Heniek. He was accompanied by a almost two meters high, black woman, which seemed to be without breast. Her name seemed so familiar... like from Pokemóns cartoon! Kabuto, or something like that. To be honest, she rather resembled me a man, than woman, but what can we expect from someone from Maria Mutola's family. „It must be fun there, in Mozambique, where woman looks like men”- I thought. However, quick greet with uncle, before careful,
gentle iron hand shake with his wife, and then we were ready to go to their house.


The building made a strong impression on me. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and huge kennel for rottweiler, named Morder (a Killer in English). Somehow I got a conclusion, that surely was Kabuto's idea, to have that kind of animal in home. Anyway, it was easy to recognize, that uncle's company was doing great. At the dinner, we've been talking a lot, about what happened in our lives. As uncle said, his firm, HenBud, was one of the most respected building companies in Norway, and they were winning many awards in various plebiscites. „On avarage, it gives us about 12 milions Norway crownes per year”- he said. I didn't stand, and finally asked:


- Uncle, It all sounds great, but how did You get money, to open this business?! When You were leaving Poland, You were completely out of money!

- You see my boy... You don't have to believe me, but I won this money on lottery. Yep, last coins, that I had in my pocket, I spent on a lottery ticket, which gave me 500 hundred thousand crownes. Little credit, small help from Maria, Kabutos relative, and we've opened our company.

- You're right, it sounds unbelievably. But I still ponder, why am I necessary in here, You already have everything!

- Your mother called me, and ask for help. I couldn't say „no”. We'll find some work for You, I assure. Besides, we've got some commission. You don't have to worry about dwelling, You can live here, until You'll come out „on yours”.

- I don't know how to thank You. I'm very grateful to You. I hope, maybe someday I'll repay for all, that You've done for me.

- Alright boy, we'll talk about this, and about future tommorow. Now You should go to sleep, cause You look exhausted. You're gonna sleep upstairs in first bedroom on left. Goodnight.

- Thank You.


Next day noisy cockcrow woke me up. No, not real cock, it was only uncle's annoying alarm clock. It was 6.30, and I felt that I need some more sleeping. Unfortunately...


- Konrad, wake up, I'll show You where You gonna work.

- Now?! So early?!

- Who wakes early gets... new panties. Or something like that. Unimportant. Take a shower, and we're gonna meet in kitchen in 30 minutes.


I ate breakfast with closed eyes, and I actually don't have an idea, how could it be, that I didn't soil myself with mayonnaise. We finally left home ten minutes before eight. When we arrived, I didn't even have to get out from car, to see a little stadium. I do not have a calculator in my eyes, but it looked like there were 5000 standing places to watch the game, with a small box, and dingy club edifice.


Somewhere, behind the wood, was something named "pitch"...


- This is the place, when we're going to work now. We've got one and a half year, to build there a new stadium, with 30 thousand sits including roofing, and brand new grass. In new, larger club edifice they want to open a club museum, which...

- Right, but, what club is it?

- Viking Stavanger. Are You interesed in sports at all?

- Not even a little, I've told You that already.

- Aaa, yes. But You don't need no passion to this work. The only important thing, is to finish it right on time. Look at the project...


Oh yeah. It was dazzling. Supposedly, some billionaire from Uzbekistan decided to put big money in team, and all structure he wanted to start from... stadium. As I heard, our work was going to be finished in parts, to don't clash with league games. I saw, that a gang of builders have started to destroy banks around old stadium and stands demolition already. Lightning was old and dirty too.


Next morning, I woke up right on time, when cock was starting to crow. On a building site, I joined to our team. It wasn't too hard to make friends with these guys. Some of them were from Senegal, some from Mexico, other from Guinea. None of us known English, or Norwegian too good, so we had a lot of fun there. Together, we've been deinstalling grids, sits and rusty scaffolding.


From week to week, our way of communication was getting better, and a stadium was growing up in eyes. Somehow, I got to like Kabuto. She was making great scrambled eggs on bacon. Uncle was happy about progresses and my work. I couldn't say anything different about myself. I was lucky to be under his wings, in Norway. At ocassion, I got used to sport. Actually, I liked it much more than ever before, surely because of a local team. They were playing well and pretty, and I was wondering, how would it be, when I could be one of them. Of course, it was too late for getting to young team. Either way I was absorbing knowledge about football, by all parts of my body. No wonder, if everyday I was seeing them playing football, if not in matches, then in training games. Once, I came to stadium, to see Viking youth team match. These guys were 15-16 years old, but their skills were impressive. In half-time, I heard a talk between two women sitting behind me. They surely were mothers of young players. My Norwegian wasn't still great, but I understood the most important things.


- Have You heard, that since next month, our boys could play without coach?

- Yes, I know. Old Sammy has some problems with his heart, and he has to quit.

- Exactly. It will be a pity, if our little players need to resign from football. There are no successors so far.

...


I didn't even try to hear the rest of conversation. I quickly converted in my head, that coach post gonna be free. „Hey, how You, 19 year old man (it was my 19. last month), without expierence in football, want to teach kids, which would surely kick your a** on the pitch?!”- I was asking myself. On the other side, it was an unique chance, to feel this discipline from inside. There still were no willings, so, in a way, I could be a redemption for these young boys, and their careers. There still were two problems. How should I reconcile coaching with a job in uncle's firm. The biggest one, was a coaching course, which I supposed to finish earlier.


- I can't see any problems my boy. You'll finally get on your own, that's brilliant. I'll try to appoint You to chairman, then it would be all in your hands. - uncle said.

- But what, when I won't get on? - I asked hesitantly

- Then You'll come back to my company. It won't leave anyway, hehe. Otherwise, You shouldn't think so negative, it's impermissible in sport. - he answered with smile on his face.


I was happy, and stressed in same time with this situation. Next morning, uncle told me with uncovered pride in his voice, that chairman have accepted my propose of meeting. By the way, it came out, that management of club wanted someone young, with fresh-look on football to train youth team. Then I lost all of my doubts - „I'll get this job!”- I said to myself.


Unexpectedly, it didn't start well. Old secretary, just after my few asks took her welded to desk eyes off it, and looked at me with weird dissatisfaction.


- Mr Ruchanov is waiting for You – she said

- Thanks. If it starts like that, It couldn't be worse now... - I sad silently.


A chairman turned out as a friendly and kind man, with respect to other people. He couldn't wonder, how such a young, healthy and perspective guy like me is seeking to get that kind of job. I was suprised, when he said, that it's not any problem, that I don't have a coaching course. He even made a little football quiz, inclusive of terminology, football rules, and general knowledge about this sport. After it, he's told me, that any courses wouldn't be a obstacle for me. It built me up for sure.


- So, when can I start my job? - I asked

- You're going to be an unofficial coach for next two weeks, we'll se how You're doing. If we both are happy about it, You'll pass a course, and we're gonna start a real co-operation, supported on professional contract.

- Thank You very much mister president.

- Call me Ruslan.

- Ok, then, thank You Ruslan.



Ruslan was a really great person.

After formal section of our meeting, Ruslan told me about his vision of Viking's Stavanger future. In five seasons, he was thinking about building a team, which should be able to fight for Champions League. After that, next three years he wanted to spend on mixing in this competition. I swear, that where very advanced plans. It made me happier, that I may be a part of this project. „In couple of years, some of my boys could play for senior team. The biggest team in Europe”- emotions were on high level, I felt it too. It was an opportunity, which I couldn't waste...