It’s possible to be humble and successful — the N’golo Kante story
Just over 30 years ago and only nine days into the Parisian spring, a boy was born to Malian parents in the western suburbs of the The City of Light. That boy would grow to be somewhat small in stature, reaching only 1.68 m in height, but very large in impact on the modern footballing world. And although teams struggle to win matches when he isn’t on the pitch he is, by all accounts, extremely humble and unassuming.
Two days ago he was on the pitch when Chelsea F.C. upset Manchester City F.C. to win the 2021 UEFA Champions League. And just in case you don’t know he was also on the pitch when Leicester City F.C won the English Premier League in 2016. And when Chelsea F.C won the English Premier League the next year in 2017. And when France won the World Cup the next year in 2018. And when Chelsea F.C. won the Europa League the next year in 2019. So only 2020 remains a blip in his impressive record since 2016.
But he is more than on the pitch. He is a key player with his ball recoveries, his tenacity, and his energy. His fighting spirit was clearly seen on Saturday as he played with passion and a fire to win. And he had been a small injury doubt for the final. No Chelsea F.C. fan wants to think about how Saturday would have gone if he had not been fit for that match.
Even after this big upset and win, in which he played a pivotal role, his smile and celebrations afterward remained unassuming as always and when it came time for him to kiss the cup, like the other players did when they walked past it, he seemed shy and didn’t embrace it in the same way as the others.
He has said that the stories about his humility and shyness are somewhat exaggerated but even those of us without behind the scenes access to him can see through candid photos and videos and stories from his teammates that this is really his fundamental nature.
His beginnings are fairly humble, growing up in a small apartment in Paris to immigrant parents. But many professional players have humble beginnings. So what makes him so different? Was it the tragic loss of his father at the age of 11? He even suffered another horrible tragedy as his eldest sibling died just before the 2018 World Cup. Is it these tragedies that have helped shaped him? No doubt they had a very strong impact but the early stories about him have always referred to him as being selfless, shy, unassuming, and humble. Stories from before the age of 11.
I don’t have the answers. Instead, I am just amazed to watch this sweet and humble person do what he does on the pitch. I have volunteered at many sporting events so I have behind the scenes experience with elite athletes: the Rogers Cup (5 times), the Master Games, and the Canada Games. And as well I have played on a variety of sports teams and even once played against the German national team in basketball. And my overwhelming impression of almost all of these high performance athletes was one of arrogance. So, in my mind, I knew that I never had what it took to be an elite athlete because that is far from my nature.
But then along comes sweet, humble, little, and supremely talented N’golo Kante to blow the doors wide open on this theory of mine and show the world that you can be humble and very successful.
Thank you N’golo and best of luck with France at UEFA Euro 2020. Go and get your victory for 2020 and complete your set.
