Didier Domi: ‘We are building a family’
The club media met up with a former player who came through the Paris Saint-Germain youth system. Didier Domi spoke about his role in the PSG Academy and his time playing for the club.
Didier, you are a coach at the PSG Academy In Doha, Can you explain your role?
I am a technical advisor to the PSG Academy in Qatar. We recruit young players to give them the Paris Saint-Germain values on the pitch and the way that we behave. It’s incredible because we started with 300 players and now we have 2000. There were lots of players on the waiting list so we had to recruit new coaches. We are building a family, so that we always transmit the Paris Saint-Germain values. The parents and the children are happy, which is all that counts and that’s what my role is.
What is the PSG CUP, the tournament that has brought you here to paris?
The PSG Cup regroups the best U11, U13, U15 and U15 girls teams throughout the PSG Academies across the world. Everyone comes together in Paris for four days each year. The Academy is growing and we have players from across the globe. It’s a challenge, it’s an organisation and the club is doing very well. The feedback is always extraordinary. The families remember this atmosphere for all of their lives.
You are a product of the paris saint-germain youth system, was it a childhood dream for you to wear the shirt?
It was a dream and it’s still a dream. I was born in Sarcelles and then lived in Fontenay-en-Parisis. My mum signed me up for sports studies in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and I never imagined that I would become a professional footballer. In the youth set-up, we had an incredible footballing education. I am still living a dream today, we are in the football family. We can meet incredible footballers, as well as youngsters from the area.
What memories do you hold of the european semi-final that you played against barcelona?
An hour and a half before the match, I went out onto the pitch, I saw it was empty at Barcelona’s end and when I turned around, I saw that the Paris end was already full and lively. You have to see it and experience it to understand what you feel at that moment. It’s a shame that we lost but it was an unforgettable moment for me.
Paris Saint-Germain have just won their 10th title, how did you feel when you saw that?
When I see that we have 10 titles to our name and that we are catching up with all of the top French clubs, for me that is the most important thing. Being strong on a national level is most important. Building foundations. 10 French league titles is exceptional and a huge source of pride for me as a Parisian.