Didier Gomez, Rayon Sports’ shining light

He just arrived in Rwanda in November last year. But he has already turned into something of a legend, at least among the fans of one of Rwanda’s oldest and biggest football clubs.When Rayon Sports hired Didier Gomez Da Rosa as their coach, few in Rwanda knew the Frenchman at the time. Yet in just seven months the hitherto little-known tactician had ended the club’s eight years of trophy drought.And he ensured the now Nyanza-based side won the biggest trophy in the land: The Primus National Football League.Gomez was born on October 10, 1969 in the French capital Paris.He is the second born in a family of four – two boys and two girls.He told Saturday Sport that father, Louis da Rosa, is the man his role model because, on top of bringing him into the world, he was his first coach. But he treasures his mother too.“Nicole, my mother is very proud of my work and does the best Lemon Tarts in the world,” said the Rayon Sports head coach. His early daysGomez undertook high school sports studies at the age of 14 at Nimes, which allowed young footballers in the south of France to have an education and at the same time work hard to break into the world of football.He was only five years old when his older brother took him by the hand to the training ground of ASOA Antibes, which became his first club.“I loved it and as I was already feeling a little lonely, I chose to become a goalkeeper. This role, this position, was love at first sight and it has always boded well with my personality,” Gomez says with a smile.At 10 years, he signed for what he describes as “the best club” in his city, the Antibes Football Club, which he says will always be part of him along with Rayon Sports.“I experienced a tough time with my first real coach, Laurent Robuschi, a former French international, who gave me a very hard time but he made me what I am,” he says.He adds, “After Nimes, I joined the ranks of professional trainees OGC Nice (an amateur team) where I made good progress as a goalkeeper after a terrible tibia fracture during a French league cup match when playing as an up field player.”Gomez had the chance to rub shoulders with some of France’s greats, including Roger Ricord, Serge Recordier and Christian Cappadona, who gave him tips on how to become a successful coach.“I started coaching at the age of 22, handling young kids from age six; I rose through the ranks gradually, and thanks to many courses and the French Football Federation’s support, I now hold a Fifa Level A coaching license,” he happily says.Proud fatherThe 44-year old Gomez has one daughter, Rebecca, aged 15, who he says is a big fan of Rayon Sports. “I am very proud of her (Rebecca) because she is proud of me and supportive of what I am doing here. It is not easy to live away from your father, especially when the two of you are close to each other, but she is coping well.“She is my reason to live, the love of my life. Like all our fans, she is waiting for the next title for Rayon Sports and I hope I will not disappoint her,” the Frenchman continues.He was recruited by Rayon Sports in November last year after the club had suffered four defeats in a row and laying nine points behind the leaders in the league table standing.“I admit that the situation at that time was complicated, but I have been fortunate to have a workforce ready to work hard, staff solidarity and a chairman out of the ordinary, Mayor (Abudallah) Murenzi (of Nyanza District), the architect of our success,” beams Gomez.He noted that when he arrived, he doubled the team’s training sessions, worked hard to get the best out of every player, which paid dividends. “Because of hard work, confidence gradually returned and despite staffing gaps, everyone did what they were supposed to and this took courage, hard work, sacrifice, sometimes a bit of luck, but I think the league title was well deserved.”“I deeply thank my players, who have worked in line with my demands as the head coach, including discipline on and off the field and we all have to be top professionals in order to achieve our objectives.”Savoured victoriesIn his first season, Gomez helped Rayon Sports to the national league title, which the club had not won in eight odd years and that gave them the ticket to represent the country in next year’s CAF Champions League. “Eight years without a league title was a long time for a club as big as Rayon Sports, and we must not allow it to happen again.“When I arrived we all started to pull in the same direction, the players, coaching staff, the chairman and the fans, we all rallied behind the team, especially in matches against the big teams like Mukura, Kiyovu and APR.”And Gomez savoured every win.“What an atmosphere! I will never forget the moments of joy, almost crazy experiences in these victories. I get very emotional when I think about it,” Gomez recounts with teary eyes.He reveals that Rayon Sports have big plans in the coming season which include fighting to retain the league title, going as far as possible in the Champions League, as well as Cecafa-Kagame Cup and Peace Cup.“Rayon Sports is a great Rwandan club, maybe the most popular. In this sense, we must compete in every major competition every year, pulling off great victories but, most importantly, remain humble and focused,” he said. The future“To achieve our goals, we need to store the 2013 title in our trophy room and forget we even won it because it is already in the past and we must look to the future with humility.” “Another season will begin soon and you don’t want this to come when you are still celebrating the title. That would be dangerous. It is now essential to go back to our basic values summarised in three words: work, work, work!” he explains.“I absolutely believe in human values, in the sense of sharing, respect, solidarity. Furthermore, I am a hard worker and with Rayon Sports, I feel tireless, that’s my winning strategy,” Gomez maintains.According to the Frenchman, humility is the essential value that enhances selflessness and commitment in work. Many of his players have embraced this and he thinks that, ultimately, this is what makes the difference.