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Thomas Corbet
Published on August 9, 2024 at 3:42 p.m. See my news Follow Rugby News
Long considered one of the enfants terribles of French rugby, Djibril Camara had been able to rely on the support of the French stadium and of Gonzalo Quesada during some delicate episodes of his career. He returns to Actu Rugby on his special relationship with his traineras well as on the treatment of mental health issues in rugby.
Stade Français’s outstretched hand to Djibril Camara
Before things ended rather badly in 2019, Djibril Camara had had some very good years at Stade Français. Notably the title in 2015, which could well have been achieved without him after the episode of his suspension for missing three anti-doping tests.
“I thank Stade Français, they could have fired me for serious misconduct but they were very, very cool with me. Instead of spending six months locked up at home, doing nothing or maybe going out and doing stupid things, they helped me pass the time by sending me to India,” explains Djibril Camara.
“I went to Calcutta for a month, they put me with an association of orphans who played rugby, I had to train them, spend time with them, eat with them, etc. That’s where I discovered that I liked training.”
I am Senegalese. In Senegal too, there is poverty but there, I was really disoriented. And I was alone, especially. You realize that the daily worries when you are in France have absolutely nothing to do with what is happening there. It puts things back in place. When I returned, I no longer behaved the same way, I stopped complaining.
Djibril Camara
Former Stade Français player
A special relationship with Gonzalo Quesada
Back on track after his suspension, Camara knew he owed his club something of a debt.
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He says: “I still arrived at Stade Français when I was what? 13, I think? I think the directors appreciated me and I gave it back to them too. I was really dedicated, I gave my all when I was on the pitch. And the year of the title, thank you Gonzalo!”
“He’s one of the coaches who trusted me the most and when someone trusts me, I give it back a thousand times over. I may have made mistakes but he always kept his faith in me even though he obviously punished me. But for once, I played almost every match of the season to be champion of France at the end. Frankly, I’ve always said it, Gonzalo, thank you,” continued the former winger or full-back.
But beyond the fact of having made him play, it is the human management of the Argentinian that the former player praises, and the close relationship that they had built under the Parisian jersey.
With Gonzalo, I could talk. When I had the slightest problem, I would call him. I would tell him about my problems, whether it was with my ex-wife, in my personal life, my family or whatever. We would talk and try to find solutions. This relationship meant that, behind, I couldn’t disappoint him. I owed him something.
Djibril Camara
Former Stade Français player
Rugby and mental health
In the person of his coach at Stade Français, Djibril Camara had found an ear but also his salvation. Because this ear was in the immediate vicinity, which is not given to everyone. And in his opinion, professional rugby would benefit from taking better care of its human resources.
“When your balance is disturbed, it’s not easy. You go a bit crazy! Afterwards, it takes time, you have to go and talk to professionals. You have to open up a bit. Because I was a person who didn’t talk much, who didn’t open up much. That’s why Gonzalo helped me a lot,” he admits.
Within the Parisian club, Gonzalo Quesada was not the only person in whom the players could confide on this subject.
“We had Myriam, a psychologist that we could go see from time to time to talk about our problems. And it would be good if they put shrinks in the clubs more often, so that the players can discuss their personal problems,” hopes the former international.
“When people ask you if you’re okay, you always say that you’re fine. But sometimes things aren’t going so well at home and you don’t necessarily want to talk to the players about it so that they can get involved in your private life. With psychologists, you can open up and they could unlock small solutions so that things go better in your personal life, which would also be beneficial in your life as an athlete,” he sighs.
A rugby that would build professional athletes armed both psychologically and physically, it is true that that can leave one dreaming.
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