The Fairo Sport Network Teams up to Help US Goalkeeper for Professional Trials in Panama and Colombia

Goalkeeper Elijah Miller, former University of Maryland player to next trial at Real Cartagena in Colombia

Over the last couple of months, former UMBC goalkeeper Elijah Miller, 20, of Baltimore, Maryland (See profile) has been working hard on the field training and preparing himself for big things with well-regarded and respected goalkeeping coach Jason Muffoletto (See profile) Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Fairo Sport has busy connecting the dots to provide training opportunities in Central and South America with the help of professional goalkeeping coach Elquin Quinto of AFEAF in Barranquilla (See profile) and goalkeeper coach Martin Viveros Castellanos who has been in the Panamanian 1st division for over a decade. (Learn more)

Goalkeeper Coach Martin Viveros with the young goalkeeper Elijah Miller

“I see this opportunity for Elijah a the foundation of something much larger, with the pinnacle being creating greater cultural exchange and equity through soccer.”
Stephen Swanger, founder of Fairo Sport

The founder of Fairo Sport, Stephen Swanger, who himself was a trialist in Chile and Bolivia considers this opportunity for the young player the first of many that can be supported by Fairo Sport.

“As a player, if you have a professional mindset, work hard, you’re a good person, and you have a network around you to support your dreams, you’ll be able to find playing opportunities somewhere in the world, which is exactly why I created the Fairo Sport network. We all carry a fire, and it is important to me to pass the light of that fire to others. Connection to the collective human spirit is empowering, truly, and I see this opportunity for Elijah a the foundation of something much larger, with the pinnacle being creating greater cultural exchange and equity through soccer.”
Stephen Swanger

The young goalkeeper arrived to Panama on June 16 and the next morning at 8am Coach Viveros began to put him to the paces immediately. (See video here) The whirlwind continued for Elijah when he then received the news that he would be getting on another flight from Panama to arrive in Cartagena, Colombia to start a two-week trial with Real Cartagena, a professional Colombian soccer team based in Cartagena, that currently plays in the Categoría Primera B. Let’s all wish Elijah good luck as he makes his way onto the field to one day be a goalkeeper at the Jaime Morón León stadium.