One of the more experienced players in the Rovers set-up is central defender, Norvil Gaspard, who has a wealth of experienced, having been part of the Anse Reunion 2012 side which won the Land Marine Cup, and has also previously played for Foresters and St Michel.

Having spent the majority of his playing career as a winger, Gaspard is now leading the defensive side of his team, a position he said he originally played in, before being moved into attack. 

Today, we talk to the 33-year-old, who is now ready to share his experiences with the younger generation. 

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am Norvil Gaspard, 33 year old, who lives at St Louis. I spent most of my childhood at Brilliant and went to school at Plaisance, after which I went to Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT). 

When did you start playing football?

I started football very young. I think my father played before and I got into it as well. Then I got more opportunities, playing for the school team and progressed from there. Then I found myself joining Foresters youth and developed from there.

You have played for a few teams locally, where have you enjoyed your time the most?

Well, to start off, Foresters was a great team to learn and develop with, but when I moved to Anse Reunion, I really enjoyed it and it was a great moment for me. It was difficult to get opportunities to play for the big teams on Mahe at that time and at Anse Reunion I got the chance to play and be better. I even won a knockout title with them.

What is your best memory in football?

There are many memories I will treasure, but the cup win with Anse Reunion is the biggest one, because we were considered the underdog at the time, but we managed to win the title. I also have good memories playing for St Michel, where we won titles and also, I got the chance to play at continental level.

How did your signing for Rovers come about?

I had been following Rovers progress for a while and when I was ready to get back on the field from my break from football they were the most attractive option for me. It was important to me that my new club would be structured and have a clear plan and vision. This is what I found at Rovers.

You signed for Rovers a few years ago but have hardly played any matches due to the covid-19 restrictions. How has it been so far?

It’s been very difficult missing football due to the pandemic. But hopefully that is now over and we can look forward. It’s been a very positive time with the club so far during. We have had ups and downs but I can see the progress of the whole Rovers family.

You are an experienced player in a relatively young team, what are you hoping to bring to them?

I am trying to help guide and develop the next generation by sharing the experiences I gathered over the last 15+ years of playing football. Rovers is also team with high ambitions and I want to make my contribution to their goals by helping the team win many titles.

What do you think are the key ingredients required for a young player to become a successful footballer?

Hard work, effort, dedication and patience these are the key to become successful footballer. When you are on the football pitch, you tend to forget everything else, so my advice is to enjoy it. In sports, you can go further than you can ever expect, so take the opportunities that come your way. 

During your time with the club you have seen the academy and also trained with some of the youth players. What has impressed you the most?

I see a lot of talent there but I’ve been very impressed with their willingness to put in the hard work and keep learning. We will be hearing about some of these young players for years to come.

Aside from football, what do you do?

Aside from football I just work. I have a hotel transfer business, so most of my time is spent on the road. So, I have to balance my time between that and also my family. I have a son and so if I am not working or playing football, I am at home and spending time with him. 

Are there any other sports that interested you aside from football?

I can play a few sports here and there, but football is the only one I am focused on.

Your last league result against LMS was a disappointing loss. Tell us what happened and what fans can expect in the next match against West Boys FC?

The LMS match is a good example of why football is unpredictable. We dominated the game, created a lot of chances but the result did not reflect our efforts. It was very disappointing. We are now looking forward to bounce back against West Boys next week. We will look to maintain the same level but take our chances in front of goal and bring back the 3 points.