A girl in the male world of Ludogorets managed to break through and after 12 years is now an integral part of the champions' team. Stella Simeonova - the translator of the “Eagles“. “After 12 years it is no longer difficult, but the beginning was quite hard. Especially to enter as such a young girl among so many men. And not quite dressed... All the stars are looking at you. At first, you feel that this is not your place and that you have to constantly prove yourself to these people“, Stella shared in the program “Before the Round“ on DIEMA SPORT, Gong.bg writes.
How were you received?
„Footballers are football players – at first they didn't take me seriously. They looked at me as someone who had just arrived, and they wondered how long I would last. There were even bets on how long I would stay“, she said frankly.
I think most of them lost?
„Most of them have already left – those who bet“, Stella laughs. „When you come, for example, from Brazil, everything is a shock – a culture shock. We help a lot with the adaptation, including the players' families“, she adds.
„There was an interview about 10 years ago with Jonathan Cafu. At that time, Georgi Dermendzhiev was the head coach. Apparently his name was difficult for foreigners to pronounce. We repeat to ourselves: Dermendzhiev, Dermendzhiev... In the interview, Cafu is asked what position he will play, and he answers: ‘Bat Joro talks a lot to us.’ I look at the camera, restrain myself and translate: ‘The head coach.’ Then this got into some show, where they wondered since when ‘Bat Joro’ in Portuguese means head coach“, Stella said with a smile.
About her role in the club and the future
„We want to develop Bulgarian girls and give them a chance. To open the door for them. Because this door often opens a crack, but quickly closes – due to lack of conditions, due to lack of support“, concluded Stella Simeonova.