For all of Kouame’s physical skills, it was his mental approach that may have impressed the most. Where many players his age go through wild mood swings, he stayed even-keel. He says he’s a “really chill guy” who likes F1 and music. But he’s obviously not afraid to court controversy.
“French rap is the best, let me say it,” he declared to Amritraj.
After his win, Kouame was asked how he kept his cool in his big-stage debut. I liked his reasoning.
“Training,” he said. “I put a lot of hours into training. If I play and lose, it’s OK, I have other tournaments.”
“I was well-prepared, the tactics were good. I had my team, and the crowd behind me.”
Why worry when you’ve put in the work, you’re hitting the ball well, and you trust your coaches? Even if you lose, you know you’ve done everything you could do. That’s an attitude, if he can keep it, that may take him far.
