Renowned U.S. Soccer Coaches Visit Bolivia

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Kris Urs visited the soccer clinic in El Alto, where several indigenous female players enthusiastically participated in this event.

Prominent American soccer coaches Amanda Cromwell and Jay Miller visited Bolivia under the SportsUnited program to conduct workshops with Bolivian youth and soccer coaches from April 21 to 27. These two world-class professionals were selected by the US Soccer Federation to participate as ECA Sports Envoys for the Department of State.  

The Department of State’s SportsUnited Program is an international sports programming initiative designed to work at the grass roots level to assist non-elite youth, ages 7-17.  The goal of the Bolivian program is both to bolster soccer skills and to help the athletes discover how participation in sports can foster the development of life skills and achievement in other areas.  It is also meant to foster a spirit of international cooperation and goodwill.

Coach Amanda Miller poses with a group of young players at The Strongest Soccer Club.

Coaches Cromwell and Miller visited La Paz, El Alto and Los Yungas, conducting clinics for over 900 players, boys and girls, and for over 50 soccer coaches.  

Jay Miller has over 20 years of international coaching, training and scouting experience, including the position of the USA Under-17 National Team Coach, USA U-23 National Team Coach and the interim coach of the full USA National World Cup team.

Amanda Cromwell is one of the most successful soccer coaches in the United States. Since taking over the helm of the UCF women's soccer program in 1999, Cromwell has brought the Knights to regional and national prominence. She was a member of the U.S. team that took third at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden and an alternate on the 1996 gold medal winning Olympic team in Athens, Ga. after coming back from a serious knee injury.

Coach Jay Miller talks about the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle to some of the young soccer players attending the clinic in Coroico, Los Yungas region, where soccer is the main recreational and sports activity.

After completing the Sports Envoy program in Bolivia coach Miller said:  “With regret I prepare for my return home.  I have had the opportunity to travel the globe because of my soccer life.  I can say this was the most interesting country I have visited.  The uniqueness of the topography and the incredible adaptability of the people are remarkable.  The football is very much like the rest of the world.  Once on the field we all speak the same language.  To all my new Bolivian friends and colleagues, thank you for the experience.”

Also, coach Cromwell remarked: “Bolivia is such an extraordinary country. I enjoyed every clinic we did in La Paz, El Alto, and Coroico. The views were always amazing, the local coaches were very helpful and receptive to us and the kids had fun while they worked hard and hopefully learned a few things from Jay and myself.  The people of Bolivia are so warm and friendly and the children will forever be in my heart.  The game of football united us all.”