How Cameroon’s N’kono Inspired Italy’s Buffon To Leave Striking Role

Inspiration Knows No Racial Boundaries

More often than not, our desires are shaped by the models of goodness we encounter. These models can be so many that, for some people, an entire community has taken up fragmentary residence in them.

Even when we are entombed in the throes of apathy, depression and indecision about what we want to do, these models of goodness can prove so influential that they birth in us new life-changing desires.

Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s current first choice, national team goalkeeper and one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers, found his life-changing model of goodness, in the Cameroonian National Team.

As a youngster and enthusiastic striker, Buffon couldn’t help it but change this originally desired role on the football pitch after watching the glaring prowess of Cameroonian goalkeeper, Thomas N’kono in the 1990 world cup.

N’kono’s speed, spontaneity, quick reflexes and aggression in the goal area, inspired Buffon to leave the striking role and start on the path to become the great goalkeeper he is, now.

A new desire was birthed in Buffon to inspire his transition from a shot taker to a shot stopper. The inspiration was so intense that Buffon named his first son, Louis Thomas, in honor of the Cameroonian.

N’kono, arguably the greatest goalkeeper Africa has ever nurtured, produced, through inspiration, arguably the greatest goalkeeper the world has seen.

From the Buffon-N’kono anecdote, it can be seen that inspiration knows no racial boundaries. Such an event should set grounds, if not, be a strategic motivator for eradicating the inferiority complex that is still engulfing many Africans.

As European and Western cultures continue to breed and inspire new desires among us, we should be aware that African cultures have potential to inspire and nurture new desires among Europeans.

Inspiration knows no boundaries, so, let’s escape from the illusional boundaries we’ve created.