Arghana arrived at NOC*NSF the next day with mixed feelings. He knew that today's consultation with Dr. Annelies was crucial.
The transfer rumors that were gaining momentum made him feel the urgency to find an answer to his problems.
If he really had to look for a new club, he needed to understand what was happening with his body and how he could optimize his strengths.
When he met Dr. Annelies, Arghana immediately explained the results of his experiment.
He described how the previous treatment methods—physical training, yoga, and breathing techniques—had helped him achieve quicker focus improvement.
However, there was one thing that bothered him:
his focus duration was much shorter when trying to imitate Cristiano Ronaldo's movements compared to Romeo Castelen.
Dr. Annelies observed carefully as Arghana showed his training footage.
A small smile appeared on her face as she watched his attempt to mimic the star player's movements.
However, her expression became serious when she saw the duration and the results shown.
After a discussion session, Dr. Annelies sighed and began to explain her analysis. "Arghana, based on what we've seen from your training results, there's a fundamental difference between your training condition and when you're playing in a match.
In a match, what happens to your body isn't just regular focus enhancement; it's something deeper.
We'll call it the 'Hyper Focus Moment,' or HFM."
Arghana frowned, waiting for further explanation.
"In match conditions, HFM makes your brain work in a unique way.
You can imitate players from your memory as if you have fully internalized their movements.
Moreover, you are likely able to combine various elements from players stored in your memory, creating something more than just imitation.
This explains why, during a match, you can move as if you already possess skills that you haven't explicitly trained for before."
Arghana absorbed every word carefully, trying to connect her explanation with his own experiences.
"However, this condition doesn't occur automatically during training.
In training, you can only achieve improved focus, but it's different from the HFM you experience during a match.
This means we still need to conduct further research on how to trigger HFM outside of matches."
Arghana nodded slowly, beginning to understand why his experiment hadn't gone as he had hoped.
However, there was one big question still bothering him.
"But why was I able to last for eight minutes when imitating Romeo Castelen, but only two minutes when imitating Cristiano Ronaldo?" he asked.
Dr. Annelies smiled faintly. "That's a good question.
Although I'm not a football player, from a physical standpoint, I can conclude that the difference lies in the playing styles and the explosiveness of their movements.
Both Romeo Castelen and Cristiano Ronaldo are fast players, but their playing styles are very different.
Castelen relies more on agility and dynamic movement, while Ronaldo is more explosive in every action."
Arghana began to understand her point.
"So, because my body isn't yet prepared for the explosiveness of Ronaldo's level, I fatigue faster?" he asked.
"Exactly," Dr. Annelies replied.
"Ronaldo's movements require more energy, faster acceleration, and muscles that are ready to handle bursts of power over a short period.
That's why when you try to imitate his movements, your body can't support it for long durations.
It's not just a matter of technique, but also a physical readiness that's different from what you've been training for."
Arghana paused to think for a moment.
If that was the issue, then there was a solution to overcome it. "So, what's the solution, Doctor?" he asked.
Dr. Annelies smiled. "You need to specifically improve your physical capacity.
This means your training should target explosiveness, muscle endurance, and your body's ability to withstand high intensity for longer periods.
If you want to be able to imitate players like Cristiano Ronaldo without excessive fatigue, you must train your body to handle the same physical load."
Arghana sighed deeply. The solution made sense, but it also meant his work wasn't finished.
If he wanted to master more explosive movements, his body had to be ready to accept new challenges.
Dr. Annelies looked at Arghana with a calm expression before continuing her explanation.
"In my opinion, if you want to maximize your training during a focus moment, you should imitate players who have a physical build similar to yours.
That way, your training will be more effective and efficient."
Arghana remained silent, trying to process Dr. Annelies's words.
Seeing this, Dr. Annelies smiled slightly and continued.
"In the medical and sports science world, there's a concept called 'muscle memory.'
This is the ability of muscles to remember movement patterns that are frequently performed, so these movements can be done more efficiently over time without needing to think too hard.
If you train by mimicking the movement patterns of players who have physical characteristics similar to yours, your body will adapt more easily and build a more stable foundation.
This is different from trying to mimic players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who have explosive physiques and a playing style that heavily relies on power and acceleration.
Your body will struggle to keep up with that rhythm for a long time without specific training."
Arghana began to understand her point. "So, if I train by mimicking players who are more like me, I can absorb their techniques better?"
Dr. Annelies nodded. "Exactly.
Not only will you improve your game during normal phases, but also during matches. In fact, if you train with the appropriate capacity and consistently, you can improve your performance without always relying on the focus phase or Hyper Focus Moment (HFM)."
"BOOM."
Arghana felt like his mind had just exploded.
All this time, he had only thought about how to optimize his hyper focus during matches.
But the idea that he could be a better player without always relying on that mode?
That was a completely new perspective.
Seeing the stunned expression on Arghana's face, Dr. Annelies smiled again.
"Your Hyper Focus Moment is a gift, but it's not the only way to develop.
If we can find a way to make your normal game significantly better, then when you enter HFM, its effects will be much stronger and more controlled."
Arghana nodded slowly.
This was something he had never considered before.
And maybe, this was the answer he needed to face the challenges ahead.
After the intense consultation session, Dr. Annelies summarized several key points for Arghana.
"To reach your Hyper Focus Moment (HFM), we still need to explore more about the triggers that can activate it.
However, as an athlete, there are some steps you can take right now to improve your training effectiveness and performance."
Dr. Annelies continued, "If you want to imitate players with an explosive style like Cristiano Ronaldo, there are two things you need to improve.
First, you need to improve your physical condition so that your body can support those explosive movements.
Second, you need to improve your technical skills.
That way, when you enter a focus moment during training, your physical energy consumption won't be excessive."
Arghana nodded, paying close attention.
"So how do I improve my technical skills without exhausting my body too much?" he asked.
Dr. Annelies smiled. "There are two approaches. First, structured and continuous technical training.
Second, make use of muscle memory.
If you train with movements that suit your body's capacity consistently, muscle memory will form. This will improve your performance even during normal phases.
That means, during matches, you can develop without having to rely solely on the focus phase or Hyper Focus Moment."
Seeing the stunned expression on Arghana's face, Dr. Annelies smiled slightly.
"So, before we understand more about HFM triggers, it's best to strengthen your physical and technical foundation first.
That way, you can gradually reach a higher level of performance."
The consultation session ended.
Arghana walked out of the room with his mind full of thoughts.
This time, despite the 500 Euro bill in his hand again, he felt it was the most worthwhile money he had ever spent.
With determined steps, he left NOC*NSF, ready to apply all the lessons he had learned today.