Ilan Kebbal and Gessime Yassine, Côte Bleue graduates, reunite for Paris FC v Strasbourg | OneFootball

On Saturday at 17:15, Algeria international Ilan Kebbal, 28, faces Morocco international Gessime Yassine, 20, as Paris FC meet Strasbourg on matchday five in Ligue 1, a reunion of two diminutive talents honed on the Côte Bleue.

According to L'Équipe, both were long overlooked by elite academies before growing between the Étang de Berre and the Mediterranean, where slight footballers often relaunch close to home.

Marseille-born Kebbal was released by Bordeaux’s academy in summer 2018. His mother, Wahiba, known as Biba, felt he lacked industry then and noted he shared a dressing room with Jules Koundé and Aurélien Tchouaméni, who were better prepared. A quick solution was needed.

She contacted Titou Hasni, now OM academy director and then Gémenos coach. With that squad full, Kebbal joined FC Côte Bleue in National 3, his 1.69 m, 60 kg frame initially doubted before he impressed, including a direct free-kick into the top corner against Gémenos.

Under Momo Sadani he thrived, having earlier played at Marignane-Gignac in 2015-2016. A Troyes trial under Jean-Marc Furlan followed a seven-hour BlaBlaCar journey after a car breakdown. He slept through one session, dazzled the next, but the club had already signed a similar small dribbler.

Questions about size persisted, and mentors felt he also needed to loosen maternal ties. Last summer he told relatives he was desperate to join OM, while his mother wished him peace and quiet.

Yassine, from Salon-de-Provence and schooled at Istres, also idolises OM. After rejections at Strasbourg, Amiens and in Italy, he joined Marignane-Gignac-Côte Bleue FC in summer 2023 as the U19s stepped up nationally. Officials rented flats in Gignac and offered BPJEPS training contracts to him and team-mates.

Director Philippe Beltra drove him daily to Sausset-les-Pins and recalls a cheerful, calm character convinced he would turn professional. He even shared a tale of Kebbal scoring direct from a corner moments after being told to be more precise.

Yassine relished the stories and the snack-bar trips with U19 friends, even as staff deemed his 1.72 m, 67 kg frame too slight for the National side. He left for Dunkerque late 2023 and has flourished in Ligue 2, trusting finesse over bulk.

Source: L'Équipe

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