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.
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.
Aldridge didn't waste this excellent opportunity; he calmly shot to equalize for Genk.
After scoring, Aldridge sprinted to the stands, followed closely by Wang Feng. They both raised their hands, saluting the fans together. Their teammates surrounded them, celebrating this hard-earned goal.
Although Genk ultimately drew 1-1 with Waasland-Beveren, they still maintained a two-point lead over Anderlecht in the league standings, becoming the champions of the first half of the season.
After the game, the players made a pact to celebrate together. Even head coach Aimee Antonis joined in. They made noise until late at night, and the next day officially started the winter break, with the team not gathering again until early January.
Alone in his dorm room the next day, Wang Feng's mind was filled with thoughts. Unconsciously, he had spent two New Year's abroad. Initially worried about being cut and returning home in disappointment, now he felt melancholy because he couldn't reunite with his family. Humans are truly complex beings.
The next day, as usual, Wang Feng woke up early. He had formed his own biological clock. After a simple wash-up, he went for a jog along the lakeside park.
During this holiday, Wang Feng had made detailed arrangements. He would train with his personal trainer, Abel Le Goff, in Oostende, the westernmost city in Belgium, for additional training.
Oostende was one of Belgium's main port cities. The warm and humid air from the Atlantic made it warm in winter and cool in summer, which was why Wang Feng chose it.
During Christmas, Oostende would have some large music concerts and exhibitions. The city had a racetrack, a year-round swimming pool, a pleasure pier, an art museum, and the Ensor Museum. There were also tourist facilities such as seaside baths, spa resorts, and coastal hotels, allowing for enjoyment between training sessions without getting bored.
Francisco Balmond had already helped Wang Feng find a private villa in the coastal area, which cost only 800 euros a month. It had a complete set of fitness equipment, making it very convenient.
Bess and Civu were both going home to be with their families, so this time Wang Feng could only train alone.
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.
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