VIDEO: Berna Kabakci Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time this academic year, goalkeeper Berna Kabakci is getting called up to play for the North Macedonian national team.
Kabakci gets the call up to the national team for the second time this season after competing in a UEFA match against Bulgaria in September.
"In the first experience I learned a lot," Kabakci said. "I learned a lot about the dynamic of the team and the players. They are a lot older than me so there's an age difference. This time, there have been some players retire and so a lot of young players will be joining and we have a new national head coach. In September, it was good to see how practices went and how that dynamic was with meetings and personal expectations. I'm glad that I got selected again."
The freshman will compete in two international qualifying matches with the North Macedonia national team. On April 5th, the club will have face Latvia and four days later it will battle Slovenia.
"I'm really glad I get another opportunity to represent my country," Kabacki said. "Not everyone can say that. It's truly a blessing. I'm training here at Carson-Newman and preparing myself for this. I'm really happy to get this change again."
The goalkeeper is the fourth Carson-Newman player coached by Simon Duffy to be called up to compete for their national team, joining Jackie Burns, Catarina Realista and Lauren Wade.
Kabakci has competed at a high level on both the U17 and U19 teams, which ultimately has set her up with these opportunities to get the call up to compete with her national club.
In her first season with C-N, Kabakci made 52 saves and competed in 14 matches. Her presence in goal was felt immediately for the Eagles. In her first career start, she made a career-high ten saves in a 1-0 loss to Anderson. It was the first time a C-N keeper had ten or more saves in a match since Jasmine Rizk had eleven saves against Catawba in 2019.
