By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer AssociationJune 29, 2021-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the loss of Luis Montoya, who died on June 26 at the age of 76.
The native of Peru founded the Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) in 1997 to serve the growing number of soccer families who recently arrived in New York City and served as its President until last year.
“Luis was all about making certain that all children in the United States have the opportunity to play the world’s most popular sport and he had an enormous impact on the children of New York City,” commented Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) President Richard Christiano.
Several years ago, he gave a clinic in East Harlem and was surprised that the Latino children did not know how to kick a soccer ball until he taught them as their parents had emigrated from the Dominican Republic, one of the few places in Latin America where béisbol is king instead of fútbol.
The Astoria resident had two tours of duty as Trustee of ENYYSA serving two Presidents, Barry Salter and Richard Christiano. He served as a member of the Diversity Committee for U.S. Soccer under four Presidents––Alan Rothenberg, Dr. Bob Contiguglia, Sunil Gulati and Carlos Cordeiro.
Luis also volunteered as Games Chairperson for the Hellenic-American Soccer League and was on the league’s Board of Directors for seven years as well as serving as trustee for a few years in the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association. Additionally for nearly two decades, he promoted and coordinated C, D, E and F coaching courses in New York City with Alfonso Mondelo, Arnold Ramirez, John Ramirez, Howard Rubenstein and Nick Zlatar.
Luis received many honors in the last decade of his life as BAYSL named their summer tournament after him, he was inducted into the Eastern New York Hall of Fame and made a Life Member by ENYYSA.
To keep his dream alive of helping kids in the BAYSL, donations are being accepted for the Luis Montoya Scholarship Fund.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log onto http://www.enysoccer.com/