U.S. Embassy Photo Release
May 25, 2007
Fil-Am Olympic Soccer Player Visits
Philippines as U.S. Embassy Sports Envoy
American soccer has many similarities to Filipino culture, said a Filipino-American soccer star conducting clinics in the Philippines through a U.S. Embassy program. “So many lessons I’ve learned from football I’ve also learned through Filipino culture -- family orientation, teamwork, respect, leadership and all those values,” said T iffany Roberts, who won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta as a member of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. Ms. Roberts’ mother was born in the Philippines. “This program i s a great opportunity for the Philippines and United States to come together through sports to learn these lessons and make friendships.”
Ms. Roberts and award-winning player Linda Hamilton were in the Philippines this week to conduct U.S. Embassy-sponsored youth clinics to share their passion for soccer. Both Ms. Roberts and Ms. Hamilton were on the U.S. Women’s National soccer team, represented the United States in the Olympic Games, and won medals in the women’s World Cup games. They are both now coaching in the United States.
Their visit was part of the World Cup Soccer Sports Initiative, a unique program that brings American soccer professionals overseas to hold clinics for both youths and coaches. The program was created by the U.S. Government in partnership with the U.S. Soccer Federation, and emphasizes teamwork, respect, leadership and conflict resolution, and how these athletic qualities can translate into life skills and academic achievement. The American soccer professionals serve as Sports Envoys for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Ms. Roberts previously traveled to Uganda to serve as a Sports Envoy for the United States, and when she returned, she says she called the U.S. Department of State and requested that she next be sent to the Philippines. “I’m half Filipina, and I’m very proud of it,” said Ms. Roberts. “I really wanted to give back to the Philippines because my mother, my family, and the culture have done so much for me.”
“We’re very excited about being here,” she said. “I hope we can be an inspiration to the country and support your football players. When you play soccer, you can be a leader. You can both be inspired and inspire other people.” Ms. Roberts and Ms. Hamilton had a special message for the young girls who attended the soccer clinics: “We were just like you once, and we had dreams that we were able to make come true by working hard and having support.”
Ms. Roberts and Ms. Hamilton conducted soccer clinics for boys, girls, and coaches in Iloilo, Bacolod, and Manila during their week-long visit. Philippine Women’s National Team member Marilou Rubio also served as a coach and mentor during the youth clinics.
U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney visited the soccer clinic in Iloilo, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Paul W. Jones kicked off the Manila clinics. The U.S. is donating all of the soccer balls used during the clinics to the PFF for distribution to youth programs throughout the country.
The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with the Philippine Football Federation and Philippine Women’s National Soccer Team for this event, and would like to thank the Iloilo Football Association, Negros Occidental ( Bacolod) Football Association, and Rizal Football Association for their assistance in planning this program. Thank you to the PFF National and Regional Training Centers and Philsports Complex for hosting the clinics.
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