Idrissi and Trepy in Sant’Eulalia
Riyad Idrissi and Yael Trepy were the Rossoblù guests at the annual patronal festival in the Oratory of Sant’Eulalia, in the Marina district, the heart of Cagliari’s historic center. The two young players, emblematic of the development of talent in the Club’s youth academy, took the stage to participate in the lively discussion—moderated by Massimiliano Medda—titled “The Values of Sport: A School of Friendship and Respect that Teaches Justice and Peace.”
Hosting the event was Don Marco Lai, Director of the diocesan Caritas and parish priest of the Church of Sant’Eulalia. For years, we’ve been engaging with the world of sport and those who practice it, at the highest level and beyond. Serie A athletes are role models, but sometimes we misunderstand what these people represent, because footballers, champions in general, are first and foremost people, like the others we see on the streets and in everyday life. The parish of Sant’Eulalia, the Marina district, is a crossroads of the city, it is Cagliari’s gateway to the sea, and so more than ever, it’s right to talk about integration, acceptance, and multiculturalism. Values that Idrissi and Trepy best represent with their stories. We live in a difficult historical moment, marked by conflicts at various levels and latitudes, widespread poverty even near our homes, and so athletes represent an important means of demonstrating positive values. Having young people like Riyad and Yael here with us, willing to bring a message of peace, hope, and respect, is something special, and so we sincerely thank Cagliari Calcio, as we do every year, for their usual collaboration on this evening and in our projects. Cagliari It’s an organization that doesn’t neglect young people, its kids who arrive as children, it accompanies them on their journey and not just on the pitch, and this must be emphasized.”
IDRISSI’S WORDS
The left back, born in 2005, grew up in his hometown with the Società Sportiva Sadali, then moved to Polisportiva Isili—a club affiliated with the Rossoblu Academy—before joining the Cagliari Youth Sector ten years ago. “Family always comes first, because without parents, brothers, sisters, girlfriend, and people who love you and whom you love, you’re going nowhere. I always remember my parents’ sacrifices, their affection, their desire to dedicate time to allow me to train and grow in the right way. I think it’s important to never forget where we come from, our origins, our loved ones, our roots. I’m having a great time, with my debut and goals in Serie A, the blue Under 21 jersey, and so many satisfactions. I’m happy, I thank all the people, the coaches who have helped me and still help me. The national team? It’s not easy to reach it, without a doubt, but I hope and work for it too, but everything depends on what you do with your team and your teammates, and in our group we have many guys who can make it to the national team. My favorite players? I like watching Hakimi and Theo Hernandez who play in my position, they are definitely great champions who have speed and long runs, characteristics that I would like to develop. Differences between Serie A and Serie B? There’s a gap, without a doubt. In Modena, I was able to experience a high-level environment with strong players who were already capable of playing in the top division. The pace in the second division is certainly different, the quality is lower. The big difference is that in Serie A, you find champions who have made football history, and you have to compete with them and try to live up to them.
“I have a special relationship with Pisacane. I met him when I injured my knee (he tore my cruciate ligament, ed.)—it was unfortunate, but in some ways also fortunate—and I found myself with him during rehabilitation to recover. He was at the end of his playing career. He encouraged me, even scolded me one day for skipping physiotherapy. Then, when I met him as a coach in the Primavera, he helped me a lot and gave me confidence, just like last year when I was on loan at Modena, giving me advice even from a distance. Everything I’m experiencing today came from there. Personally, I’ve never given up on the dream of reaching the top. I’ve always been ambitious from my very first kicks of a ball. My family instilled in me high values, the importance of giving your all and believing in what you do because nothing is impossible. My advice to young people? Always believe in yourself, never give up no matter what happens, because you have to put your full effort into everything you do: school, sports, Human relationships, even when something seems difficult, it can actually happen. It seems like just yesterday I was playing on the street, I was in the youth academy, and now I’m in Serie A. This comes with sacrifice, with training, staying home an extra day because maybe there’s a game to play later, in short, nothing happens by chance.”
“Cagliari is truly a family. I think of the warehouse workers who welcomed me the first day I walked through the rossoblù doors, all the way up to the president and all the people who work there. There’s something special about Sardinia; Cagliari represents our homeland and has an unparalleled meaning for its people, both on the island and beyond. And we feel this strongly.”
On current events: These three wins have improved our standings and given us even more confidence. We’ve worked hard, and that’s the only way to achieve these results. We know we have to keep working hard to improve further. It’ll be tough against Roma; playing at the Olimpico will be exciting and difficult at the same time. But we believe in it, as we always have since the start of the season. My first home goal? It was a huge feeling. I scored my first Serie A goal against Verona, and this time it came in front of our fans, and it’s a whole different feeling. Hearing my stadium cheer and hearing my name being chanted is a dream come true. But now I’m not satisfied; I keep working, hoping for many more, both at home and elsewhere.
TREPY’S WORDS
The 2006-born striker arrived from Paris at sixteen to join the youth team, then spent time with the Under-20s, and now he’s joined the first team, scoring on his Serie A debut on January 8th in Cremona. “I was on vacation at home when Coach Pisacane called me to tell me I’d be going on retreat with the first team. Three years ago, when I arrived in Cagliari from France, I never would have thought I’d reach Serie A and immediately score on my debut for Cagliari. It was an incredible feeling, and I thank Luca Mazzitelli again for the beautiful assist (laughs). Everything is the result of sacrifice, of dreams realized through hard work. Leaving home and family at a young age certainly meant growing up quickly, leaving my comfort zone, and focusing on doing my best to ambitiously realize my dream of becoming a Serie A player. My favorite player and role model? Thierry Henry.”
“I’m fortunate to train and play in a healthy group, made up of people who help each other a lot, and it’s easier for us young players to fit in, too. I have to thank Coach Pisacane, who instilled his mentality in me, the club that supported me every step of the way, the Sardinians who welcomed me because from day one I felt at home, and I can’t wait to make my debut at Unipol Domus after having done so away. Yes, I already feel Sardinian after a short time, and I thank all the people of Sardinia.”
