Tuesday, October 25, 2016

A Letter to My Goal

Gianluigi Buffon is consider by many to be one of the greatest Goalkeepers to ever live. "Gigi," as most call him, currently plays for Juventus and represents his native country Italy. This past year he was able to break one of the toughest goalkeeping records in professional soccer when he went 974 minutes with out conceding a goal. That's almost 11, 90 minute games. The 37 year old Goalkeeper released this poem as a reflection of his relationship with the goal.  The poem itself is simply beautiful.

"I was 12 when I turned my back on you, denying my past to guarantee you a safe future.
I went with my heart
I went with my instinct
But the day I stopped looking you in the face is also the day that I started to love you
To protect you
To be your first and last line of defence
I promised myself that I would do everything not to see your face again. Or that I would do it as little as possible. It was painful every time I did, turning round and realising I had disappointed you.
Again
And again.
We have always been opposites yet we are complementary, like the sun and the moon. Forced to live side by side without being able to touch. Team-mates for life, a life in which we are denied all contact
More than 25 years ago I made my vow: I swore to protect you. Look after you. A shield against all your enemies. I’ve always thought about your welfare, putting it first even ahead of my own.
I was 12 when I turned my back on my goal. And I will keep doing it as long as my legs, my head and my heart will allow.”
-Gianluigi "Gigi"Buffon

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