The 20 year-old tandems are international transfer students in their first semester at AVC, where they play for the soccer team. They came to the United States from Bolivia, South America.
“It was like a dream to come here and play soccer,” Stefanie said about coming to America. “It was something to accomplish.”
The Zabala twins attended Private University of Santa Cruz, Bolivia (UPSA) — or as it’s pronounce in South America, Private University of Santa de la Sierra — where they played for six months.
According to the Zabala’s, when it comes to distinguishing South American soccer and American soccer, it’s all about discipline. They favor the American ways of soccer because it’s better organized, structured, and the players are treated with a little more respect.
“Coach is very disciplined, he is always trying to make us better players,” Stefanie said about AVC head coach Jerry Stupar. “In South America they don’t concentrate so much on the players, it’s more on the game.
“The women’s soccer is very good in South America, but here the disciplinary actions give American soccer the edge,” Stefanie said.
The duo comes from a close-knit family of four, they have an older brother and a younger sister. They accredit their father for inspiring them to come to America. They refer to a conversation with a close friend for persuading them to attend AVC.
The girls have been involved in organized soccer since the age of six. Recollections of family trips to professional soccer games in their hometown and influential cousins have kept them in uniform and on the turf. Needless to say, the coaching staff and players have embraced them with enthusiasm.
Especially Stupar.
Stupar said that there was an “immediate connection,” nationality wise, when he first heard of the arrival of the Zabalas.
“I was excited to see what deal was,” Stupar said.
Stupar is half Italian and one-fourth Croatian. The Zabala’s are also part Croatian, which has led to the dubbing nickname the “Croatians Sensations” as Stupar likes to call them. Besides the heritage link was their shared passions for the game.
They have a big passion for the game,” Stupar said. “Their passion for the game makes them exciting to be around.”
Relocating to another country isn’t easy for most, but the Zabala’s have had no problem adapting to and tapping into the American culture. A key obstacle they’re in progress of fully achieving is the English language. Stefanie said that the twins had a “base of the English language before transferring.”
“In Bolivia we took English classes for a long time, but it’s not the same, when you talk with someone here, Carolina said, who is older than Stefanie by one minute. “We’ve improved so much.”
“They take feedback well as well as constructive criticism,” Stupar said. “They never give up. I never have to question whether or not they have to work hard.”
The two freshmen have not seen much playing this season, and are not deterred by it, but more motivated to earn some more of the coach’s trust. Stefanie and Carolina have, and continue to share the same educational goals in life. Both are majoring in fashion and want to minor in business. Eventually, they want to open their own fashion shop.
-By Donjai Richardson
