«She Spent Her Entire Childhood Playing Only with a Ball»: Interview with the Mother of Irtysh Goalkeeper Stella Baburchina-Luklyanets

Guarding the goal for Pavlodar in the first season of the League will be 15-year-old Stella Baburchina-Luklyanets. Like Valeria Kosareva, she already plays for Kazakhstan’s U-17 national team – despite the age difference.

– Could you tell us how old your daughter was when she first became interested in football? What inspired her to take up the sport?

– At the time, we lived near a stadium. She was very little, had just learned to walk. Whenever we went out for a walk, we always had a ball with us – and she absolutely loved it.

By the way, she’s now training at that very same stadium – Zhuldyz. Throughout her entire childhood, it was just the ball – she would roll it around all by herself. Dolls or any other toys never interested her. And then, when she got a bit older, she said to me, «Mom, I want to play football».

Back then, there were no places that accepted girls. We found her a private football school, and that’s where she started training. She really enjoyed it – she’s always been fearless.

At first, Stella was an outfield player. Then I found the number of coach Kseniya Nikolaevna and gave her a call – but she said, «I’m sorry, the girls I work with are 3–4 years older than your daughter. I won’t be able to take her, she’s still too little.» So everything was put on hold for about six months. But then I met another coach who said, «Bring her in». That was in 2021, when Stella was 12 years old.

– How did she decide to become a goalkeeper?

– One day she came home and said, «Mom, buy me gloves – I’m going to be a goalkeeper». I asked her, «Aren’t you scared»? She said no. And that was it – she started playing in goal, and it just clicked for her.

As a mom, of course, I was really worried about her first injuries. Before she was taught proper technique – how to position her hands correctly – we were regular visitors at the regional children’s hospital. They already knew us there: «Hello again,» X-rays, fingers...

Thankfully, there were no fractures, but there were plenty of bruises. I tried to talk her out of playing goalkeeper – she was a good forward too. But she found her place and now she’s in a very strong position, since goalkeepers are quite rare. Of course, there’s competition all across Kazakhstan, but here in our city she’s highly valued – she plays for multiple age groups and has already been called up to the U-17 national team for the second season in a row.

– What worries you the most? Are there any particular challenges?

– Well, of course, injuries – that’s the biggest fear. But other than that, everything is fine, we have everything we need. If something does happen, she gets treatment. Sometimes she just needs some rest – maybe a week or so.

But they hardly ever rest – even if her hands hurt, she still goes to training and works with her feet. So right now, we don’t have any problems. And hopefully, it stays that way.

– Does she have any role models? Maybe local or international? Someone she looks up to?

– No, she doesn’t. She mostly focuses on herself and her own growth. I even asked her before this interview, «Sweetie, do you have any role models? I’ve never really heard you mention anyone». Stella replied, «No, I’m my own role model.» That’s just how she is.

She knows tons of clubs and players, but you won’t find any posters hanging on her wall – that’s just not her.

– How often do you watch her matches?

– Every game. Every single one. I used to come to her training sessions too, but then they stopped letting parents in.

And I think that’s the right decision. Some parents started interfering with the coaches’ work – shouting, giving instructions. There should be only one voice on the field – the coach’s. Not a situation where a parent yells one thing and the coach says another.

– What’s your most vivid memory related to your daughter’s passion for football?

– Probably the first time she went to the Kazakhstan Championship. I still feel like crying when I think about it. They lost heavily to Kairat – my daughter conceded around ten goals. But she kept getting up, wiping away her tears, and kept playing. She made a lot of great saves. That’s when people started to notice her and praised her for staying strong mentally – for not breaking down.

Or the memory of when she got called up to the national team for the first time – how we prepared for the training camp, how nervous I was before letting her go so far away.



– How did you feel about her decision to dedicate her life to football? And how has that choice affected your own life?

– She wanted to play football so badly that she was ready to play even in slippers. She was absolutely obsessed. I was definitely surprised when I saw what her priorities were – but I supported her right away. Now I spend a lot of time with her – driving her to and from training, making sure she’s never late. I do everything I can to help her play and be happy. I wouldn’t say I’m living her life, but I’m walking this path with her to make it a little easier.

If one day she gets invited somewhere or decides she wants to play elsewhere – I’ll support her. We’ve already talked about it. I just want her to live her best life, the way she wants to. If she wants to train – let her train. If she wants to play – let her play.

She recently finished 9th grade and is about to enter college. Back in 7th grade, she had already decided she wanted to become a coach. I told her, «Whatever you want – go for it. It’s your life».

It’s all in her hands. And if my daughter decides to pursue a professional career in football – I’ll fully support her. She works so hard. So many tears, scraped knees, jammed fingers – and it’s not just for the sake of playing a little and walking away. She goes through it all – puts ice on it, limps, but keeps going. She just says, «Mom, it’s okay».

I believe she has a future, and I believe that women’s football in Kazakhstan will continue to grow. And not just here – it should develop all over the world. Because girls truly deserve that.


The debut match of the Freedom QJ League W will take place on June 7 in Pavlodar – Irtysh will face Shakhtyor. Fans can look forward to pre-match activities, prize giveaways, and a concert by headliner Miras Zhugunussov.

The event kicks off at 17:30, and tickets are available on Freedom Ticketon.