Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Adel Sarras, a Longwood graduate since 2013, moved to the United States almost seven years ago with his family in search of more opportunities. Lancer turned professional athlete, the search paid off as Sarras now plays as center midfielder for The Strongest, the oldest active soccer team in Bolivia.
The Strongest is “the only team to have played continuously in the country’s top Division for longer than a century,” according to The Strongest website. The Strongest has also played multiple international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, and has won three championship titles
Before attending Longwood University, Sarras played for Team America, Annandale United, DC United and various other international soccer leagues around the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas.
Sarras said, “Since I can remember, soccer has been my passion, and it has opened up many doors in my life. Soccer has allowed me to travel to different places in the world [and] meet lifelong friends. It has given me the opportunity to get a college education, and now I can say that I am doing what I love for a living.”
“Soccer is almost like a religion here in South America, and you can find people playing it or talking about it in every corner,” said Sarras.
Since the age of four, Sarras remembers kicking the soccer ball around with his oldest brother as well as going to the stadium to watch soccer together.
Sarras said, “I had to endure a lot of hardships from an early age such as the death of my parents, a brother and a sister-in-law. Soccer has always been an escape for me and this is why I have such love for the game.”
Describing Longwood University as “one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Sarras said that he chose to go to Longwood because of the loyalty he was given as a an athlete, as a student and as a person. Due to citizenship conflicts, many D1 programs lost interest, but Head Coach of Men’s Soccer Jon Atkinson and the Longwood soccer program continued to support him regardless.
“[They] believed [in me] when no one would,” said Sarras, who later added, “I am proud to be a Lancer.”
Atkinson said, “Adel’s a little more unique than most guys who arrive at Longwood.”
Atkinson commented that he recruited Sarras in Annandale, Va. in 2007. “I remember him as a very young, very enthusiastic player who just had a very zest for the game, and we knew that would translate well to the college game.”
“He’s got a great engine on him, which means that he can obviously run around the field a lot as a midfielder. He’s got a great technical ability, and I think that the challenges resort to being that kind of inner confidence to kind of push on and take control of himself and of games, and that’s something that he started to show as he became older and more mature,” said Atkinson.
Of the many influences in his life, including Argentina soccer players Juan Riquelme and Diego Maradona, Sarras described his mother as “my biggest hero.” Other major influences include Atkinson as well as the Goolrick family, a family who he said took care of him for a year and “taught me how to be successful.”
The motivations that have caused him to continue to be so driven to succeed have included his mother, father, oldest brother and sister-in- law as well as his family currently living in the United Sates.
“I had to sacrifice a lot to get here. I left everything back in Virginia, hoping to make it, and now that I am here, it has added more fuel to my fire and I want to take this as far as I can,” said Sarras.
Since moving to Bolivia to play for The Strongest, Sarras comments that the main challenge for him is getting used to the altitude of La Paz, Bolivia. As the highest capital city in the world in terms of altitude, Sarras says, “It’s almost impossible to breathe, and
your stamina is almost nonexistent.” “Other than that, getting used to my new surroundings and being alone and always on my own had been tough at times,” said Sarras. Atkinson said, “I think Adel’s come
a long way. He really has. I think through the adversity of youth – which is always going to bring a little bit of challenges along there – I think he’s equipped himself very well.”
“I believe his best years are ahead of him, and I wish him all the success he can in the game because he loves it a lot,” said Atkinson.
For the future, Sarras noted that his goals include becoming a starter for The Strongest and helping the team win a fourth championship. He also hopes to one day represent the Bolivian national team.
“As far as goals outside of soccer, I just want to make my family and loved ones proud,” said Sarras.
“I am learning a lot and improving as each day passes, and from here I want to take my soccer career as far as I can. I would love to someday play in Europe and to represent my country. After soccer is done, I plan on going back to the States and hopefully starting my own business and taking care of my family,” said Sarras.
Atkinson stated that the Men’s Soccer Team at Longwood University is proud of him and that he is a “testimony to anyone who comes to the school.”
