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Rafael Amaya (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Rafael Amaya is a retired Colombian-American soccer defender
who spent two seasons in Major League Soccer
, five in the American Professional Soccer League
, at least five in the National Professional Soccer League and at least two in the USISL. He currently coaches the Colorado Lightning
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
.
, Colombia
, and spent his youth in the United States earning 1983 New York City High School Player of the Year recognition. He then attended Long Island University
where he majored in business and communications. In 1987 and 1988, he played in the Colombian First Division. In 1991, he joined the expansion Colorado Foxes
in the American Professional Soccer League
. He would go on to play five seasons with the Foxes. By the time he signed with Colorado, he may have been playing in the National Professional Soccer League. However, records only begin for the 1992-1993 season when he is listed with the Denver Thunder
. In 1993, he moved to the Wichita Wings
where he would play two three winter indoor seasons. However, he only saw time in six games during those two seasons. On February 7, 1996, the San Jose Clash selected Amaya in the 13th round (128th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played seven games for the Clash that year. In January 1997, the Clash traded Amaya and Paul Bravo
to the Colorado Rapids
for Dominic Kinnear
and a second round pick in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
. In the spring of 1998, Amaya joined the Colorado Comets
in the USISL PDSL. He played for the Comets during 1998 and 1999. In the fall of 1998, he returned to the Wichita Wings
for one game during the 1998-1999 NPSL season. However in the fall of 1999, he signed with the St. Louis Ambush
in the NPSL and played twenty games. That was his last full season of professional soccer as a player, but he continues to make the occasional appearance for lower division teams in Colorado. For example, in 2008 he has played for both the Colorado Predators
in the fourth division National Premier Soccer League
and with the Colorado Lightning
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
.
. In September 2008, the Colorado Lightning
of the Professional Arena Soccer League
hired Amaya as the team’s first coach.
Amaya has also served as member of the BOT (Board of Trustees) of the Colorado State Soccer Association.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent two seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, five in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
, at least five in the National Professional Soccer League and at least two in the USISL. He currently coaches the Colorado Lightning
Colorado Lightning
The Colorado Lightning are an American Arena indoor soccer team, founded in 2008.The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America....
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
.
Player
Amaya was born in BogotaBogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, and spent his youth in the United States earning 1983 New York City High School Player of the Year recognition. He then attended Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
where he majored in business and communications. In 1987 and 1988, he played in the Colombian First Division. In 1991, he joined the expansion Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. He would go on to play five seasons with the Foxes. By the time he signed with Colorado, he may have been playing in the National Professional Soccer League. However, records only begin for the 1992-1993 season when he is listed with the Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder were an indoor soccer club based in Denver, Colorado that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team was previously known as the Illinois Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
. In 1993, he moved to the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
where he would play two three winter indoor seasons. However, he only saw time in six games during those two seasons. On February 7, 1996, the San Jose Clash selected Amaya in the 13th round (128th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played seven games for the Clash that year. In January 1997, the Clash traded Amaya and Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo
Paul Bravo is a former American soccer midfielder and forward who played six seasons in Major League Soccer, two in the American Professional Soccer League and two in the USISL. He also earned four caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team...
to the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
for Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear is a Scottish-born American former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.As a player, he began his professional career with Scottish club St...
and a second round pick in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. In the spring of 1998, Amaya joined the Colorado Comets
Colorado Comets
The Colorado Comets were an American soccer club based in Denver, Colorado founded in 1985 which later competed in the SISL and USISL.-History:...
in the USISL PDSL. He played for the Comets during 1998 and 1999. In the fall of 1998, he returned to the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
for one game during the 1998-1999 NPSL season. However in the fall of 1999, he signed with the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
in the NPSL and played twenty games. That was his last full season of professional soccer as a player, but he continues to make the occasional appearance for lower division teams in Colorado. For example, in 2008 he has played for both the Colorado Predators
Colorado Predators
Colorado Predators are an American soccer team, founded in 2007.The outdoor team is a provisional member of the National Premier Soccer League in 2008, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and will make its debut in the Southwest Conference in 2009, playing against teams from...
in the fourth division National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
and with the Colorado Lightning
Colorado Lightning
The Colorado Lightning are an American Arena indoor soccer team, founded in 2008.The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America....
in the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
.
Coach
During the early 1990s, Amaya coached at the youth level in Colorado. This included Arvada West High SchoolArvada West High School
Arvada West High School is a public secondary school in Arvada, Colorado. Opened in 1963, it is one of four high schools in Arvada.-History:Arvada West High School was contracted in 1961 and opened in 1963....
. In September 2008, the Colorado Lightning
Colorado Lightning
The Colorado Lightning are an American Arena indoor soccer team, founded in 2008.The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America....
of the Professional Arena Soccer League
Professional Arena Soccer League
The Professional Arena Soccer League is an North American indoor soccer league recognized by FIFRA ....
hired Amaya as the team’s first coach.
Amaya has also served as member of the BOT (Board of Trustees) of the Colorado State Soccer Association.