Bolivian Soccer tradition

[Anonymous]

Here you guys go ->

Anonymous wrote:
Someone made the comment that there is a league of Bolivians so we should get excited. My point is that in terms of "street cred," Bolivia is not a draw for the casual of serious soccer enthusiast. Again, look at the facts. Any country can produce one or two folks over its history but you will not find anyone in Latin America or elsewhere with a Tahuichi jersey let alone anyone who knows who he is. But you will find people who know Messi, Maradona, Palermo, Tevez, Neynar, Willian, Ronaldinho, Suarez, etc. Please folks, stop the nonsense. There is no smugness or generalizing. Bolivia is not a soccer powerhouse and never has been. The point here is that if you say that there is a Brazilian, Argentine, German, Italian league, people will flock to it. If you say there is a Bolvians league, they will likely yawn. Yes, Bolivia plays soccer as does a majority of countries in Latin America but if you go off its trackrecord of ranked players and placing it national team and professional teams in international tournaments, it is clearly a 3rd tier country behind every team in South America except Venezuela.


agree. It doesn't mean a player from there can 'emerge' once in awhile---just like the US and Pulisic or George Best from Ireland or Salah and Egypt. But--they aren't known for reliably churning out superstars like---Spain, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Argentina, etc...

nobody ever claimed they were. However, it is a fact that Bolivia was one of the better teams in South America as recently as the 1990's. Youngsters who were wearing diapers in the mid-90's may not recall those days, but many of us certainly do.

Having leaved in various countries in Latin America and knowing a fair number of Bolivians, I know that no one in Latin America every considered Bolivia a serious soccer country. Again, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico are powerhouses and Bolivia has never benn mentioned in the same breath. As a matter of fact, they are not even mentioned when discussing Peru, Colombia, Paraguay or Ecuador.

[Anonymous]

lol. Cannot believe this actually became a thing.

[Anonymous]

Why is this a post? This isn't Bolivia and I doubt most on this board care about Bolivian soccer. Neither the US mens or Bolivia is even in the World Cup. Please get a life and remove this stupid post.

[Anonymous]

Plus that wonder player, Moreno, is coaching at McLean RIGHT NOW! y'all better watch out!

[Anonymous]

Let's just put it this way, if you tell me there are local leagues of French, Brazilians, Mexicans, Argentines, Niegerians and Bolivians and to rank them by street credibility, Bolivia is likely the last pick. I can indentify stars from each country, I bet the stars from Bolivia would be the least known.

[Anonymous]

This is more about street cred. If there was a b-ball camp run by Lebron James, another run by Steph Curry and another run by Bradley Beal, which would get the most attendance. Sure, locally Beal will draw kids from the DC area but James and Curry will draw kids from the US and beyond. Why? Because they are recognized as the best and have a national and an international following. Beal does not. Sure he is a good player but he does not have the credentials of either James or Curry.

[Anonymous]

Where did this come from?

Anyway, there is a decent Bolivian soccer league here. It's special because it is the weekend focal point of the community.

There are also other ethnic leagues that at certain times have featured really good soccer. Most of the Hispanic teams are consolidated into a league playing in Maryland these days. I believe there is also a league based in Woodbridge or Dumfries. Good money is at stake for these leagues.

The Afghan league was pretty good and they host an annual tournament here every summer that attracts teams from all over the US and Canada and usually someone flies over some lower level pros from Europe.

Years ago the Washington International Soccer League really was international and you had strong teams built around the various embassies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did this come from?

Anyway, there is a decent Bolivian soccer league here. It's special because it is the weekend focal point of the community.

There are also other ethnic leagues that at certain times have featured really good soccer. Most of the Hispanic teams are consolidated into a league playing in Maryland these days. I believe there is also a league based in Woodbridge or Dumfries. Good money is at stake for these leagues.

The Afghan league was pretty good and they host an annual tournament here every summer that attracts teams from all over the US and Canada and usually someone flies over some lower level pros from Europe.

Years ago the Washington International Soccer League really was international and you had strong teams built around the various embassies.

Yes, I remember playing in the WISL when I was just out of college (30 years ago). Lots of fun.

[Anonymous]

I rub llajua in your eyes!

[Anonymous]

Then by all means go to the Beal camp but you know that you are not learning from the best.

[Anonymous]

Joselito Vaca -

In 1999, we had MLS in full swing and the USYNT residency program. Considering all the non-existent "soccer infrastructure" that bolivia doesn't have (or didn't have back then) and the fact that it's a small country, they had teenagers moving up to professional ranks every year, and in this case coming to MLS and doing very well. All we had the U17 residency program with $$$ being pumped into it. And named to the all-star team in his second year! So either Bolivia has amaaaazing players, or the US is waaay behind... (or was behind, at the time) hmmm which is it...



Vaca joined Oriente Petrolero in 1999 at the age of 17, and played 33 games for the team his first year. In 2000, he was named the Best Player in the Bolivian League, as he helped lead Petrolero to a second-place finish in the league and concomitant Copa Libertadores berth.

Following the 2000 season, Vaca signed with Major League Soccer, and was selected fifth overall by the Dallas Burn in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. His second season was Vaca's best, as he played right midfield for the Burn, and was named to the All-Star team. Vaca played a significant number of minutes in 2003.

A trade to the MetroStars for a conditional draft pick in the 2003 offseason did little to change Vaca's performance. In four years in MLS, his numbers are average at best: just six goals and 18 assists in league play. He returned to Bolivia, signing for Blooming in 2005. After four years and one national championship with the millonarios, he decided to go back where all began, rejoining Oriente Petrolero in January 2009. In March 2012, Vaca was signed by Colombian first division side Deportivo Pasto, team which he played for the rest of that year.[1] In January 2013 he returned to Bolivia and signed with Blooming for his second spell with the club.[2]

[Anonymous]

his wikipedia page