Steven Gerrard? Philippe Coutinho? Charlie Austin? The hottest ticket in Townsville in 21-year-old Louis Zabala, writes Joseph Esposito from Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
On the eve of a showdown with Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa, Warren Moon calls a halt to his Brisbane Roar session.
Making his way to the centre of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, he can sense his boys are feeling the pinch. Townsville has served up a scorcher.
Allowing them a moment’s respite, something catches his attention, and that of the Roar coaching staff, too.
It’s the local kid, Louis Zabala. He’s raring to go. The North Queensland tropics suit him just fine. It’s written all over his grin.
As training resumes, the echo of teammates yelling ‘King Louie!’, after each of his pinpoint crosses, is quickly followed by a host of laughter.
The gag itself originated after he was swarmed by television cameras entering baggage claim at Townsville airport a day earlier.
“I wasn’t expecting it all, it’s something very new for me,” Zabala said.
After all, Zabala has played a grand total of 633 A-League Men minutes, and hails from nearby Giru, a town boasting a population only a tick over 350 people.
The spritely 21-year-old knows a chance to play back at home won’t come around often. Let alone against the likes of Philippe Coutinho, with Steven Gerrard in the dugout, and alongside new star signing Charlie Austin.
But seeing the local boy might just be the hottest ticket in town!
“They’re all coming. My mum, dad, brother, sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, my girlfriend’s family, old school mates, there’s plenty!” Zabala told KEEPUP on the eve of Roar’s clash with Aston Villa.
“It wasn’t long ago that I was up here dreaming of being a professional. (So) it’s quite surreal.
“To have achieved that now, I sometimes have to pinch myself.”
For the second time in a week, Zabala and his Roar teammates will take on Premier League opponents in the Queensland Champions Cup, facing Villa in Townsville after losing 2-1 to Leeds United on the Gold Coast on July 14.
Zabala was part of a band of young Roar prospects who impressed against the English opponents.
When prompted about the next challenge presented by Gerrard’s Villa, he couldn’t contain that grin, again.
It’s hard to blame him, too – especially given how bright he was in his 30-minute cameo against Leeds United on the Gold Coast.
Roar’s youngsters’ second-half push even caught Gerrard’s eye.
“It was unreal. Being up close and personal with these types of players gives you a different kind of confidence,” Zabala said.
“As a team, that showed, and we did really well against a quality opposition.”
Gerrard, who extended his side’s final training session in Townsville in what seemed like an attempt to acclimatise to the surroundings, said last week: “I was really impressed with them. They really made Leeds work for the win.”
“We expect a team full of enthusiasm, full of energy. We expect the best version of Brisbane Roar come Wednesday.”
