Julián Andrés Santa
Great athletes are born in the neighborhoods, they forge their talent by overcoming daily difficulties but they never stop dreaming big. This is what happens with Mateo Arias Montoya from Pereira, who is preparing his suitcases to travel with the Colombian National Team to the U-17 World Indoor Soccer Championship, which will take place in Paraguay from May 20 to 27 of this year.
Mateo Arias’ position is the arch. Despite his youth, he will compete in his second World Cup with the Colombian micro-soccer team, something that should undoubtedly be more recognized in the department’s sports community. However, the Pereira native continues with his low profile, focused on his goals, grateful to his family and coach Fabio Aristizábal, also being proud of his neighborhood Hernando Vélez, where great talents in this sport such as Alexander Ospina and Jonathan Prada have also come.
There he forges his talent
Mateo expresses: “When I started playing indoor soccer permanently, I was 13 years old with teacher Fabio Aristizábal. I am here every day of my life playing on this Hernando Vélez court. My experiences with the Colombian National Team have been with the U-15 team, where I was runner-up in the world, and with this U-17 team, where we are going to Paraguay again to play in the World Cup.”
“I wanted the same opportunity and we fight for the same thing every day. In the tournament in Ibagué I did very well and because of my performance they called me back to the Colombian National Team to be once again for Paraguay. The first time was with the U-15, I was 14 years old, it was not my category, which is 2005 and this year with the U-17 but mixed with 2006. We were runners-up in the world, we lost the final against Brazil in Paraguay.”
The Hernando Vélez field is like a second home for Mateo Arias, who is very fond of his neighborhood even though it is not in the best condition. “Here talents are born, three players from the Colombian National Team have come from here, Jonathan Prada, Alexander Ospina and myself, a lot of magic comes from here and I hope they can help us with the goals, with the care of the floor, since it is in decline. conditions, just like the bars, sometimes you throw a ball and it goes to the mountains.”
All the support of your family
“My sisters, my brothers, my mother and my father are very proud, they always wanted to see me in a World Cup representing my country. It was always what I wanted when I was little, sticking up for my dad because I know that at some point he wanted to be a professional or represent his country, so it’s me sticking up for him and my family,” points out the Pereira soccer goalkeeper. living room, Mateo Arias Montoya.
Thanks to these outstanding years of processes, Risaralda continues to be a reference with its players and coaches in Colombian indoor soccer.
“For us it is very pleasant to have this opportunity for Mateo to be in a Colombian National Team again. It is the fruit of work, the truth is that we have been here on this stage for 24 years working in all categories and Mateo represents our country and our work groups.”