Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Photo; Courtesy.
By Bruce Odhiambo,
In a small town in Belgium, a football fan was very happy when he heard the news of Thibaut Courtois, the famous goalkeeper of Real Madrid, returning once again to the Belgian national team after a year and a half break.
“I missed playing for the Belgian national team, it’s been a year and a half now, and now I’m ready to go back to the field.” explained Courtois happily.
🚨🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois, set for return with Belgium national team! “I missed to play for Belgium… it’s one year and half, now I am ready”, told Koora Break with Rio Ferdinand.
Wakati wa mapumziko yake, Courtois alikumbana na majeraha ambayo yalimlazimisha kukosa michuano mingi ya kimataifa na ya klabu. Lakini sasa, akiwa amepona kabisa, ametaja kuwa ulikuwa wakati wa kurudi na kuonyesha ufanisi wake tena mbele ya mashabiki wa Ubelgiji.
Katika mazoezi ya timu ya taifa, Courtois alikuwa na furaha isiyozuilika, akionyesha ustadi wake wa hali ya juu, akiwahamasisha wachezaji wenzake na kuwaonyesha kwamba bado ana uwezo mkubwa wa kulinda lango.
Shabiki wa Ubelgiji, Luka, alisema, “Kurudi kwa Courtois ni kama tunapata nguvu mpya. Timu yetu inahitaji mlinda lango mwenye uzoefu kama yeye ili kufika mbali kwenye michuano ya kimataifa.”
Nchi nzima ilijawa na furaha wakati Courtois aliposikia msaada wa mashabiki wake wakiwa wanamsubiri kwa hamu. Kwa kila shabiki aliyejivunia ufanisi wa Ubelgiji, kurudi kwa Courtois kulikuwa kama ishara ya matumaini mapya.
Alikuwa tayari, na Ubelgiji ilikuwa inajiandaa kwa mfululizo wa michuano mikubwa, na wakiwa na mlinda lango wa kiwango cha dunia, walijua kuwa kuna nafasi nzuri ya kufika mbali zaidi.
