The Frenchman was appointed as the head coach of the Zebras in November 2023, taking over from Mogomotsi Mpote just before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Under his leadership, Botswana became a well-organized team, achieving impressive results against former African champions Ghana and Egypt. More importantly, they were on course to qualify for the AFCON 2025 in Morocco after recording a double over Cape Verde.
Unfortunately, the former Mauritania coach stepped down from his role, and when asked about his decision, Da Rosa explained that it was due to leadership issues, not financial reasons.
A lack of collaboration with the newly elected Botswana Football Association president, Tariq Babitseng, was a key factor in his decision.
"Even if it was a decision, I was not happy to make, the fact remains that I did not leave as Botswana coach because of money," Gomes Da Rosa told Flashscore.com.
"He (Tariq Babitseng) was elected as (Botswana football President) in the beginning of September and until October, I never met him.
"So, it means that he had another plan in his pocket. I'm sure that he was waiting to sack me. So, I could not continue to work in that condition. So, I left my job but with a big sadness."
Following his departure, South African tactician Morena Ramoreboli took over and successfully led the Zebras to their second AFCON qualification, despite the challenges and sadness surrounding the transition.
Impressively, players of the Botswana national team credited the achievement to the Frenchman, sharing several heartfelt posts on social media.
Despite leaving the Zebras, Da Rosa remains deeply connected to Botswana's football scene, continuing to mentor and support players in their careers. He expressed admiration for some of the country's top talents, highlighting their potential to succeed internationally.
"We are still in touch. I call them every week, particularly the leader of the teams, because they are very committed and very professional. Sometimes they need advice about their future, about the tactical system so I stay in touch with them," he continued.
"There are several good players in Botswana and I will try to help some of them to play outside. It is one of my big targets now because they deserve it. For example, I can talk about (Mothusi) Johnson, Alord (Velaphi), and our captain, Thatayaone (Ditlhokwe) who is a player at Kaizer Chief. He is a very strong defender.
"Botswana doesn't have any players currently playing in Europe, but with the new generation, we hope to achieve something in the future. I also want to extend my special regards to former president Maclean Letshwiti, who made my time in charge much easier."
Coach Gomes Da Rosa is currently managing Al Ahli Tripoli, the 13-time Libyan Premier League champions, and is determined to lead the team to success in the CAF Champions League next season.
Despite offers from several national team sides ahead of next year’s AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, the intelligent coach expresses his happiness being with the Club of the Century.
He added: "I have been with the team for over a month, and everything is going well. The club has ambitious projects and goals, with the immediate focus on winning the league and qualifying for the next Champions League.
"It is a great club with excellent organization. The fans bring a lot of pressure, but I’m handling it well.
"The ambition here is incredibly high, and we’ll see what the future holds. However, I’m very happy right now, as I’m working in a fantastic environment with clear direction."
