Completely under the radar of college teams due to knee surgeries that kept him on the sidelines for two seasons, defensive back Rolle Ruben Payep Tchana would have had every reason to be in low spirits, but his great Faith in God allowed him to maintain hope for a better future.
That better future arrived this fall. Healthy, Payep Tchana was finally able to make his debut on the collegiate scene and he proved to be an important piece of the Notre-Dame-de-Foy Campus defensive unit. His performances allowed him to attract the attention of university teams.
Photo Roch Lambert
“Several people asked me why I didn’t give up football,” he said. If you give up once, you’ll give up many times after that.”
“I always believed in the plan that God had for me, to pursue Payep Tchana. I wasn’t in control and I trusted him. I worked on my rehabilitation and in my books, telling myself that I would have no regrets. I continued to persevere and prayed a lot. If I hadn’t gotten college offers, that would have been my fate.”
A beautiful story
Head coach of the CNDF for 20 years, Marc-André Dion has seen some young people, but the story of the defensive back is among the most beautiful in his eyes. “It’s easily in the Top 5 of the most beautiful stories,” he said. His perseverance and commitment are remarkable. We only saw the tip of the iceberg. He’s going to play his best football at the next level. It combines the athletic and physical aspects.”
-A basketball fan, Payep Tchana discovered football in secondary 5 at the invitation of coach Nicolas Laroche who manages the Vikings at Les Etchemins secondary school.
“He saw me in basketball and he thought I had the skills to play football. I found it was a sport where there was a lot of contact and I wanted to be in a position where I wouldn’t be hit. I found myself as a defensive back and I had fun in my first game. I like defending and tactics more than running or catching the ball. I have no regrets about stopping basketball.”
It starts from zero
Dion remembers the young man’s first winter at CNDF. “When we talked together, I didn’t talk to him about the game system, but I explained the rules to him. He was well supervised by Pascal Masson who is one of the best position coaches. Rolle is a pure athlete who has become one of the best defensive backs on the circuit. He should have been elected to the all-star team. Because of his strength and speed, he is already ready for the CFL evaluation tests.
His performances attracted the attention of the Laval University Rouge et Or and the McGill Redbirds. The future business administration student opted for the Vanier Cup champions.
“After two seasons on the sidelines due to my menisci, I participated in camps this summer in the United States,” he said. I clocked 4.46 seconds in the 40 yard dash and this result gave me confidence. Maine offered me a half scholarship, but I preferred to stay close to my family and opt for a team that really wanted me. My coaches at the CNDF all came through Laval and they subsequently enjoyed success.”
