Moved, Dominique Gentil Nkounkou described the passing of the president of the Rêves de Gosses Foundation as a “great loss.” Together, they had worked to ensure international visibility for the Djiri Study and Sports Center, of which the late promoter was the founder. He pays tribute to him for all his works, his journey, and his spirit of sacrifice.
“I met a man passionate about football who gave his all in life to commit and invest in football. After his tenure as president of the football section of Étoile du Congo, he began to dream and realized the creation of a Study and Sports Center, the first of its kind in Congo. It wasn’t just about football; there was also basketball, judo, karate. He created this facility that was on par with some structures in France. The conditions were right, and the infrastructure was worthy of professional training,” he testified.
A vision of “football business,” according to him, which took shape when Dieudonné Benito Amouzoud spared no expense to recruit qualified staff for the CESD. Professor Mayanith was the first to technically embody the structure. Thanks to him, the center signed a partnership with the Italians. “After the federation, he consulted me at Mayanith’s request to join them. I joined, and together, always with his spirit of sacrifice, we tried to ensure that not only his center but also Congolese football could shine through training,” commented Dominique Gentil Nkounkou.
He added: “Together, we recruited a technical director, Vincent Rautureau. With him, we gave an international dimension to the CESD. The center’s team participated in three tournaments in France and South Africa. Thanks to his dreams, we also established the Djiri Cup, which became international. This allowed us to participate in national selections like Gabon’s, and a French team came.”
The rigorous training at this center gave rise to talented players like Durel Avounou, Harvy Ossiété, Exaucé, and many others who have worn the national team jersey.
“He was an important link in the transformation we began to bring to our football. He was a great man, and this is a considerable loss. But it is the law of nature,” he lamented. Dieudonné Benito Amouzoud is gone, but his works remain eternal. And all the players trained by the CESD will remember him.