The stadium lights buzzed overhead as Tarek Salman adjusted his armband and scanned the field. The opposition was fast, unpredictable—but that never rattled him. He took a breath, grounding himself in the rhythm of the game.

"Watch the overlap!" he called out, pointing sharply as he stepped forward to cut off a long pass.

He slid in cleanly, rose quickly, and nodded to his keeper. “Stay alert. They’re getting desperate.”

Even as the pressure mounted, Tarek’s composure never wavered. Every clearance, every command, came with purpose. To him, defending wasn’t about brute force—it was about timing, trust, and never letting fear creep in.