Representing A Continent

Well...

Luke should be celebrating the double-winning season with a Smirnov in one hand and a Titov in the other. However, it looks like he's about to unravel a conspiracy theory with the help of... well, he doesn't really know who just yet.

Oh is the drama all about to unfold around what happened in South Africa

They could've picked a better time to meet than the day after a big Russian booze-up Either way, this sounds incredibly important for Luke in every sense.

Looks like you're getting yourself in some Russian Mob troubles

This is about to get very interesting. I think we know who the person at the bar was, but will he be honest about his involvement?

We need the Law and Order sound at the end of the episode tbh. Will Luke go to the bridge? Or is it a ploy to get him on his own to take him out..?

I think the Russian Mafia certainly want Luke`s attention, and whether this mysterious man is part of a bigger plan, remains to be seen.

23rd May 2021

I woke up early once again. Sleep hadn’t been my best friend the last couple of days, ever since that note was passed onto me by the landlord at Edward’s. December was a tough time in my life, losing both of my parents in what I had believed since then was a robbery gone wrong. The police had no reason to lie to me and they had clearly done everything they could. But why would some random person I have never met find me in a small pub late at night to pass on a note. I knew the man who entered the pub looked shady and he clearly didn’t want anyone to know who he was but something just didn’t sit right.

The note had told me to meet whoever was behind it on Patriarshy bridge at 1pm yesterday and my mind had been racing since, questioning if I should go. On one hand, if something had happened to my parents and my family and I could be in danger, I needed to know. On the other hand, there are a lot of jealous people in the world, with our success the meet could have been a way for somebody to do some damage to me. But why would they ask to meet at one of the biggest tourist destinations in the city, in the middle of the day.

Needing to know if anyone had intentionally harmed my parents and could have been coming for me and my family, outweighed the risk and led to me going to the meeting spot. I hadn’t told Lada, or anyone else apart from the three friends I was with that night, what the note had said. If something did happen to me and they didn’t hear back they could at least get the police involved quickly. They didn’t want me to go alone, of course they didn’t but they understood why I needed to.

I arrived at the bridge early, waiting to see the description of the outfit the person behind the note was said to be wearing. The description wasn’t the most in depth, stating they would be in a red cap and a black hoodie but it was enough to go by. I paced up and down the bridge analysing every outfit of every person who I walked past in order to not miss the mysterious character who may have so many answers for me. Five minutes passed as it hit one o’clock. Nobody. Fifteen minutes. Nobody. Twenty, thirty minutes and still there was no sign of anyone. I waited for an hour, pacing the bridge up and down non-stop, just hoping somebody would come and grant me the information I had been scratching for.

But nobody came.

The journey home only found my brain working in overload once more. Why would someone find me in a small pub just to hand me a note and then not even turn up? Why would someone be so evil to bring up such a horrific time? They all lead to the same answer. People are horrible, they will do anything to get an advantage over you and maybe that was just their intention. A bitter fan of a different club trying to scare me out of the country. Someone who had seen their team lose out to us on the title. The questions didn’t stop but the same answers came to mind.

Still cursing the world and everyone who lived in it, waking up this early allowed Lada more time in bed and meant I was on feeding duty. Anastasia would be turning three in July and was becoming a young terror around the house. Often up at ungodly hours of the morning, today was no different. As I took her into the living room to play with her toy’s I turned the news on to catch up on the latest happenings around the world whilst I made a coffee and the pair of us some breakfast.

“In disturbing scenes the man was found hanging from his apartment ceiling that he shared with his young family. His wife, who was said to have been at her parents house for the day, came home late on Saturday evening and found her husband.” read out the news anchor. “The initial reports suggested the man had committed suicide but reports currently indicate that the incident is being treated as suspicious.”

The news was sometimes a horrible thing to watch with tragedies all over the world being reported on constantly. It wasn’t the sort of thing you’d ever enjoy watching for large periods of time with the news bringing your mood down. This morning seemed to be no different, with it giving me a brief break to take my mind of my own problems for a moment to focus on the tragedy that was being reported on.

“Reports are suggesting that upon finding the body, the deceased’s wife called the police immediately and she isn’t being treated as a suspect due to her alibi checking out. However, it is suggested that pictures of the deceased man, seemingly cheating on his wife being stapled to his chest and back in a gruesome scene. A note was also left by the side, saying ‘We told you to keep it quiet.’ The investigation is ongoing.”

Replies

Justice:One of your better comments. Unfortunately, that help wasn't coming!
tedbro:It seems as though only more drama is coming.
Jack:Just no need to interrupt such a party
Wolf:Who knows who is behind it all!
Scott:Seems like we won't know for sure, just yet.
James:He went, not taken out...yet.
Eoin:Somebody seems to want Luke harmed.

Surprise-surprise, the mystery is no closer to being unraveled. It is also proving to be more sinister than first imagined.

Damn, that took a dark turn. Luke seems to be neck deep in problems and suspicions at this stage.

So someone was watching Luke, but the someone that was watching Luke was being watched by someone too. The next someone better be careful: someone is dangerous!

Luke needs to regather and regain his focus, or his off-season will be spent in a very dark place.

Wow, what a story. No doubt this is the man who arranged to meet with Luke but it has been framed almost perfectly with the story about cheating on his wife. All perfect apart from the note...

Wow. What a way to go out. I wonder if Luke will ever find out the truth?

Oft he's left looking for more answers. Will Luke ever get them before Uys ramps it up another knotch

Chancel Mbemba joins Austrian side RedBull Salzburg in a move worth £17,750,000 with many surprised by the departure of a key man for CSKA Moscow.

In what has stunned many today, CSKA Moscow have moved on Congolese center-back, Chancel Mbemba to RedBull Salzburg for an initial deal worth £13,250,000 rising to £17,750,000. Still aged twenty-six and a sixty-two cap Congolese international, nobody was expecting to see the player leave.

Mbemba began his youth career in his home nation spread across numerous Congolese clubs including MK Etanchéité who last won the Coupe du Congo in 2014. Having impressed in his home nation, Belgium's largest club, Anderlecht made the move to sign the center-back to their academy. Then eighteen, Mbemba spent two years in the Belgian sides youth sides before being promoted to the first team in the 2013/14 season. During his time in the youth sides, Mbemba made his international debut for DR Congo as his side beat the Seychelles in a friendly.

In his debut season with the first team, Mbemba starred in a partnership with former Netherlands under 23 international Bram Nuytinck and helped his side to the Belgian Pro League title. The following season wasn’t as successful, finishing third in the league and runners up in the Belgian Cup. He did win the Belgian supercup in what would turn out to be his final season with the club.

The Congo international had begun to impress and teams in England took notice with Newcastle United making a move for the defender in 2015. In a deal worth £8,750,000, Mbemba joined the North East club on a five year contract. In his first season with the club, he tasted relegation for the first time as Newwcastle moved down to the Championship for the second time in six years. It would also be the final time Mbemba managed to play thirty or more league games in a season as the defender was struck by a number of injuries.

The worst of these injuries came in his final season with Newcastle as the defender tore ligaments in his knee, effectively ending his Premier League career. Despite some troubling injuries, Portuguese club FC Porto decided to gamble on signing the player for £4,000,000. The move failed to plan out for both player and club with Mbemba playing just five times in total for the side, with two of those games coming for the Porto B team.

Again, looking like he was going to struggle, CSKA Moscow made the plunge for the defender, signing him for just £1,000,000. Mbemba became new CSKA manager Luke Hendricks’ second signing at the club and was a force at the back in his debut season. With signs that the worst of his injuries were behind him, Mbemba started nineteen matches in the 2019/20 season, with three appearances coming from the bench. The defender was pivotal for a team who surprised a number of people in finishing second in the league.

Going into the 2020/21 season, much was expected of Mbemba once again, however, injuries crept back into his career and the twenty-six year old struggled to hold down his place in the squad. That was made tougher with the arrival of Jesús Vallejo from Real Madrid. The Spanish Under 21s former captain joined the Russian side in the winter window and had been in formidable form ever since, guiding his team to the title. With a number of players impressing in his position and a limited number of foriegn players allowed in the Russian leagues, Mbemba was seen as surplus to requirements by the club.

RedBull Salzburg, who won their twelfth title in fifteen years last season, decided to make the move, spending £13,250,00 on the defender. That deal is said to include clauses that could see the deal rise to £17,750,000 based on monthly installments and performance based bonuses.

Salzburg who are currently without a manager are expected to win the title again next season and Mbemba is said to be “excited” about his future with the club.

Chancel Mbemba:

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“Firstly I want to say thank you to Luke and the whole team here. They made my move to Russia a simple one and I enjoyed great success here and without them that wouldn’t be possible. Now I have to focus on my next challenge in my career, a move to Austria is exciting with the country being one of beauty. Salzburg are a great team with an incredible young core, they have produced some incredible players in recent years and I look forward to my arrival.”

Mbemba is only allowed to join the Austrian side on July 1st, until then he is said to be training on his own.


For CSKA Moscow, links are stating they will be making a move in the coming days for Dynamo Moscow defender Roman Yevgenjev, as Mbembas replacement. The 6”4 defender is said to be a long time target of Luke and the club believes they are in a prime position to now attract the twenty-two year old Russian to the team.

Replies

Justice:I am certain nobody saw it coming!
Eoin:Someone has a very twisted mind!
JamesSomeone is certainly a dangerous someone!
Jack:Certainly a coincidence that whoever it was meeting Luke never turned up and around the same time someone was found dead...;)
Scott:Can only imagine the thoughts running through his head at the moment.
tedbro:Seems to be Lukes way of life at the moment. So many questions going unanswered