From The Alleys to the lights

In one of Cairo's working-class neighborhoods, I played football every day in the alley. My feet knew every stone in the street, and football was my only refuge from the hustle and bustle of life. My name is Abdullah Muhammad, and I dreamed... no, I believed that I would one day be among the best. Chapter One: The Difficult Beginning I didn't own professional football shoes, nor even a grassy field. But I did have something that couldn't be bought: determination. I would practice after school until sunset, despite the fatigue, cold, and occasional hunger. Some would laugh at me, saying, "So you're going to be Messi?" But I didn't listen. I could hear an inner voice whispering, "Keep going..." Chapter Two: The First Test An announcement arrived about tryouts for a second-division club. I decided to go. I took two buses, carrying an old sports bag and some water. The stadium was crowded. Over a hundred players, all coming with the same dream. I played as if it were the last match of my life. I passed, dribbled, and scored. At the end of the day, the coach called me and said, "You have something... Be ready, we'll talk to you." Chapter Three: The Other Side of the Dream Professional football isn't just about fame and cameras. I was treated like a small player; no one saw my hard work. The coach sometimes wouldn't give me a chance. There was favoritism and injustice. Months passed, and I didn't play a single minute. I began to doubt myself... But then I remembered the neighborhood, and I remembered why I started. In a tough training session, a key player was injured. The coach had no choice... He told me, "Go down." Chapter Four: The Turning Point I went down, and I was a volcano ready to erupt. In the first 10 minutes, I scored a goal, and then I assisted a second. After that, I didn't leave the starting lineup. Eyes began to follow me. My first professional offer came from a major club in Egypt. I accepted. This is when the