Telling the difference between identical twins Dupablo and Zedaniel Parodis-Yu can be difficult, but Oswego East coach Steve Szymanski has come up with a plan.
He looks toward the ground.
“I just go off their shoe colors,” he said. “One has pink shoes and one wears black.
“This year, they both have assisted a goal for each other, which is really cool.”
Social scientists have spent a lifetime studying identical twins to better understand human behavior. The most fascinating biological factor is how twins share DNA.
Dupablo and Zedaniel Parodis-Yu, both seniors who are two-year starters, have rhyming personalities but contrasting playing styles.
“We have our similarities,” Dupablo said. “But we also have differences in how we play and approach the game.
“My brother has more of a defensive mindset. I am more offensive minded.”
Dupablo is an attacking forward with a demonstrated aptitude as a creator and finisher. He has 16 goals and nine assists this season for Oswego East (8-5-3).
As a junior last year, he scored nine goals and had 12 assists.
Zedaniel is a holding midfielder, a defensive-oriented position tasked with building the attack from the back. He has three goals and two assists this season.
“My brother is more agile with the ball,” Zedaniel said. “He is a more natural attacker, especially playing like he does on the left wing.
“I really like playing where I do because I feel like you are able to control a lot of the game and see the whole field. You move around a lot and do a lot.”
Senior defender Drew Karg has played with the twins for four years.
“Dupablo is much more outgoing on the soccer field with his attack and his skills,” Karg said. “And Zedaniel is much more conservative, playing defensively.
“This is how they are in real life. Dupablo is more outgoing and Zedaniel is more quiet and within himself.”
The twins also have a remarkable and culturally diversified family background that explains their elemental attraction to the game.
Their father, Milton Parodis, is a native of Colombia whose passion for soccer was a primary influence growing up. Their mother, Shu Ying Yu, grew up in Hong Kong.
Their parents met in Canada. The twins were born in Montreal, coming to the United States at age 4. Their first language was Spanish, their mother’s native Mandarin secondary.
After the twins moved to America, their parents spoke only English in order to ease the assimilation of living in a new country.
Dacarlos Parodis-Yu, their older brother, also played for the Wolves. He’s now a junior at McGill University in Montreal.
“Growing up, my dad was very passionate about the game,” Dupablo said. “He transferred that and made us love the game as well.”
The twins are both 5-foot-10. They display a sharp combination of size, balance, quickness and creativity with the ball.
“Soccer is a simple sport in many ways,” Zedaniel said. “It’s also a very creative game that can go in many different ways.
“My brother and I have been playing together for a long time. I know how he plays, his tactics and everything. It’s nice to have someone I trust on the field.”
The special connection is especially important given the Wolves underwent a nearly total roster turnover from last season.
“My role has changed a lot,” Dupablo said. “I’m a captain now. It’s my job to step up and teach them on how to fix their mistakes.”
In the end, Oswego East has been formidable, with both twins playing their part.
“When our team is working together, we are all on the same page,” Zedaniel said. “We are a great team to play with.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
