Hear Him Roar

Name: Louis Zabala

Years with Burdekin FC: 2006 – 2012

Position: Midfielder

All Louis Zabala ever wanted to do was play football.

With older brothers who loved the game just as much as he did, his childhood was spent playing in the backyard, going to football training or at the junior fields on a Saturday, waiting around all day to see if another side was short of players so he could fill in for another game.

He started with Burdekin FC at the age of five, developing his skills and fostering his passion for the game before playing in Townsville from age 11.

“That’s where I started playing and that’s where I found my love for the game,” Louis said.

“As a young kid, I loved it, it used to be the highlight of my week.

“It was all I ever wanted to do.”

After a few years playing in Townsville, Louis moved to Sydney at the age of 15 to follow his dreams of playing professional football and upon finishing school, took the next step to Spain.

Louis’ European football journey was never fully realised, however, as after a year of playing in Spain, a global pandemic hit, sending him back to the Burdekin without a clear path forward.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed Louis to reunite with his roots and play seniors with the Panthers.

“After that, I was fortunate enough to get signed by the Brisbane Roar,” he said.

Louis made the move the Queensland capital where he made his way through the ranks of the Brisbane Roar Academy.

He played for and even captained the Youth team, leading them to achieve their greatest result in NPL by making the semi-finals for the first time in the team’s history.

A string of stellar performances led to training sessions with the first team with whom he now plays for professionally, having made several FFA cup and A-League appearances.

Having forged the path from the regions of north Queensland to the highest level of professional men's soccer in Australia, Louis said he hopes to inspire his hometown, and thanked them for their support.

“When you’re a kid, from the country especially, it’s tough to make it professionally, but that’s all I ever wanted to do,” he said.

“I’m grateful for my parents, they gave me a lot of opportunity, so I never missed out.

“It’s all I ever wanted to do, it’s all I really knew, and I’m very fortunate that I get to play football as my job now.”

Louis said the keys to his success are a love for the game and a drive to take it further and further.

“If you work at it long enough and hard enough, then you give yourself the best chance,” he said.

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