Little stories always make nice asides. So we called Xavier Margairaz, the talent manager at Lausanne, to talk about Dan Ndoye. During the conversation, he also evoked his shared experiences with Jordan Lotomba...

“Jordan? I finished my career with him...”  During the conversation, Xavier (36 years old) shared the information on a blue and white plate. A Lausanne-Sport plate, the club at which the former Swiss international (18 caps) ended his career as a player, between 2015 and 2017, bringing his long career to a close at the club, where he had come through the ranks, 14 years earlier.

Before retiring as a player, Margairaz gave himself one final challenge: a promotion to the Super League and a successful relegation battle to maintain their status in the top flight. It was a challenge that a 16 year old Lotomba was also involved in. “We saw straight away that he was made to play at a higher level, explained the former three times Swiss Champion with Zurich. We come from the same place, next to Yverdon, and at that time, I remember saying that the next player to play in the Swiss National side would be him. He hasn’t broken in just yet, but it shouldn’t be far off. Technically, he is very at ease in tight spaces. He is very quick. He is versatile, can play on either side or in the middle. 

Honestly, it was obvious to everybody. He left to join YB very early on and was slowed down by injuries, but he came back perfectly and really kicked on. In Switzerland, he has a good reputation, the fans like him a lot. He is a very nice guy. On a personal note, I am very happy to see him come back into the INEOS football ranks.”

Feet on the ground 

To speak about Le Gym’s second Swiss signing of the summer, Margairaz pulled on another hat. The one he wears as Youth Coach, a role he has held for two seasons. “I can’t talk about all of his youth career, because I wasn’t there to follow it. But I know that Dan really stepped up a level during his U17-18 season. In the second half of the season, that’s where he really kicked on and showed his quality. This second half of the season earned him his first appearances for the Swiss youth teams. I went to see him for the qualifiers for the Euro U19s, in France, and he was really very good...” 

He went on to describe Le Gym’s new number 14’s qualities: “In terms of his speed and the change of rhythm, he is well above average. He also has huge potential to progress, especially on his first touch and his heading. If I had to be a bit biased, I would have to say that I would have liked to see him take another step up with us, in the Super League (smiles). But, he is a worker, keeping his feet on the ground, is willing to listen and has ambition: I am not at all surprised to see him sign for OGC Nice.”

(Photos : Y.F. / Lausanne-Sport)

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