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The Last Minute
Nidal Hammad
Daastan Publishing
First Published in Pakistan by Daastan PVT LTD
House # A-41, Madni Street, Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47040
Text copyrights © Nidal Hammad
Book Design copyright © Anum Ameer
Edited by: Huda Hashmi
The moral rights of the writer, illustrator and editor have been asserted. All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ISBN (Print): 978-627-526-078-3
ISBN (Digital): 978-627-526-079-0
To my Mother,
Who pushed me to write this book
To every kid,
Chasing a ball and a dream
Editor’s Note
When I first received Nidal Hammad’s draft of The Last Minute, I felt an immediate sense of excitement. As someone who teaches creative writing to children his age, I am always curious about young voices and the stories they choose to tell.
From our very first interaction, Nidal stood out, not only for his enthusiasm but for his clarity of thought and openness to the creative process. Over the course of this project, he proved himself to be lively, thoughtful, and remarkably professional, a rare combination for a first-time author and an impressive one at that.
Nidal is a gifted storyteller, and The Last Minute reflects that gift with confidence. While the novel is rooted in his passion for football, it reaches far beyond the game itself, exploring sportsmanship, resilience, ambition, and the emotional journeys of well-developed characters. His writing is sharp and engaging, driven by short, crisp sentences that keep the pages turning. This book is not only a testament to Nidal’s love for football but also to his ability to tell a meaningful story with heart, discipline, and maturity well beyond his years.
Huda Hashmi
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: A Scout in the Shadows 9
Chapter 2: Meeting the Competition 14
Chapter 4: The Unspoken Past 25
Chapter 5: Rivals in Red & Yellow 29
Chapter 6: A Fiery Locker Room 32
Chapter 8: Shattered Rhythm 40
Chapter 9: Shadows & Spotlight 43
Chapter 11: Pressure Rising 50
Chapter 14: Starting Whistle 63
Chapter 16: Eve of Everything 70
Chapter 18: The Turning Point 77
Chapter 19: Two Different Worlds 81
Chapter 20: Divergent Tracks 86
Chapter 22: Shifting Ground 94
Chapter 23: The Goodbye No One Said 98
Chapter 24: Red & Gold Blood 102
Chapter 27: After The Fire 117
Chapter 30: Road To The Final 128
Chapter 33: The Penultimate Battle 137
Chapter 35: El Duelo: The Final 144
Chapter 36: Wild Celebrations 151
“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work
hard for it.”
– Lionel Messi
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice, and most of all, love, for what
you are doing.”
– Pelé
Chapter 1
A Scout in the Shadows
The cold, harsh London rain had not let up all week.
Mud clung close to my boots as I was playing on the damp, muddy pitch. No crowd. No lights. Just the sound of the ball smacking the walls synced to the rhythm of my heartbeat. Defenders were closing all around me, like sharks surrounding their prey. I had one shot to score from the edge of the box. I shot the ball with all my might, and it went effortlessly into the right top corner of the netless goal.
On the sidelines, I could see a man watching me quietly and suspiciously under his umbrella. He was a short, dwarf-like man with a black raincoat and a notebook, scribbling after every single shot of mine. He didn't clap; he observed me. Once the match had ended, I stayed behind in the empty ground to practice. Afterwards, I went into the locker room and threw my muddy boots into my bag, where the mysterious man approached me.
“Jack Hunter?”
“Yeah…. Who's asking?”
“Name's Marco. I’m from Catalunya FC. Ever heard of us?”
My heart dropped. I stood frozen. Catalunya FC was one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“You have got something rare. Something we’ve been hunting for. Fearlessness.”
I stood there, my jaw on the floor, when Marco handed me a card.
“Come to Barcelona for a trial. Impress them…. And you don't have to go home.”
Marco left. There I was, standing in the rain, my hands trembling, and my heart racing as I looked at that card. This was it. The chance that I had been waiting for my whole life.
I went running back home to tell my family. It felt like ages had passed before I reached home, but eventually I arrived. Even before I could touch the door, my brother came running, eager to welcome me home.
“Hey, Jack! Why couldn't you come home on time? I was waiting to play video games with you!” Oliver, or Ollie as I like to call him, said angrily.
“Wait, Ollie! I’ve got some big news that I have to tell Mom and Dad.”
“There is nothing more important than my video games! Still, what is the news that could be more important than my video games?”
“Come to the lounge, I’ll tell you. Mom! Dad! Hurry!”
I burst into the lounge to tell the news—my father, still in his work shirt, was glued to the match, and my mother was resting on the couch.
"I have some great and exciting news, Mom and Dad!"
"Then tell us, son," My parents said eagerly.
"A scout came and told me I have been accepted for trials at Catalunya FC!"
For a while, they were stunned and didn't say anything, silence taking over the room when my mother broke the tension.
"We have to celebrate!" My mother said and went hastily into the kitchen.
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