Every Wednesday, away from the spotlight that shines on the Espanyol first team, Thomas N’Kono goes to the Ciudad Deportiva to train. He does not have Diego López, Oier Olazábal or Joan García in front of him, the blue and white goalkeepers whom he supervises in the mornings. It’s a different day. Alberto and Edu are privileged to have a legend like the Cameroonian as a teacher. N’Kono helps Espanyol’s goalkeepers from LaLiga Genuine, which from this Friday to Sunday celebrates the last phase in Bilbao.
“I come every Wednesday to train them so that they improve the technical aspect and adapt to different training methods,” explains N’Kono, who has been in this position for almost two decades apart from being one of the players with the most matches in the history of Espanyol and the most charismatic. “We tell them to enjoy the sport, that they can make friends. This is the parakeet feeling, that of growing all together,” he commented.
The goalkeepers are loving this opportunity. For Alberto “it is a pleasure”, while Edu explains that “he is a legend and has a lot to tell. Listening to a veteran is a source of pride”, he comments. “Every Wednesday is an improvement. We leave our skin, he gives us a hard time but always with love”explain the goalkeepers who will defend the perica goal against Rayo Vallecano, Córdoba and Almería in the Sports City of Lezama.