Player: Miles Chow

We sat down with Colorado Rapids Academy player Miles Chow for 18 hard-hitting questions. Miles is committed to play his college soccer at Loyola Marymount and has dreams of playing under the lights of Stamford Bridge. 

1. Where are you from? I was born in LA, but moved when I was super young and have grown up in Boulder.

2. How old are you? I’m 17. 

3. What teams do you play with today? Colorado Rapids Academy. 

4. How did you start playing? Just with friends. My mom was the coach and the team would just get together for a rec league. 

5. What’s your signature move? I would just say either the scissors or the body faints. Fake one way and go the other.

6. What’s one skill you think any player needs to cultivate?  Probably the outside-of-the-foot turn. I think that is really useful especially when you have a defender up your back and stuff like that. 

7. Who are your soccer heroes? Didier Drogba has always been an idol of mine. He's a legend on the pitch and plays for my all-time favorite club, Chelsea. His strength is like none other. He holds up the ball better than anyone I have ever seen. He brings his presence to the field that very few players bring, , everyone respects him the second he gets on the field. It's challenging to get him off the ball.

8. What was your favorite moment of World Cup 2014? I think I would say the run that Columbia made. They were really impressive and they opened my eyes to a new style of soccer. They had a little bit of the Brazilian flair. It was just free flowing the way they played. To see these guys get their opportunity to play with such joy and success, it was awesome. 

9. What’s your greatest moment on the pitch? I would say probably my first varsity game freshman year. I was lucky enough to know the high school coach before high school even so I got the opportunity to make the varsity team right off the bat freshman year. Getting my first start as a freshman is a really cool experience because you’re with all of the seniors and the guys that you look up to in front of your first semi-big crowd in high school. It was a humbling experience to be able to be on the field with all of the older guys. 

10. What’s your worst moment on the pitch? I think my worst moment on the pitch would have to be when I was younger and I broke my ankle. Injuries are always the one thing athletes don’t want.

11. How do you get past bad moments like this? I think you just try and learn from it and see how you maybe you can just improve so that nothing like that happens in the future.

12. What’s the “ultimate soccer experience” you’d like to have? Going out and playing collegiate soccer would be an amazing thing and I cannot wait to get out there and see what it’s like.  

13. What music do you listen to before a big game? Mostly rap. I listen to rap and it gets me into the zone. Mostly Drake, Jay Z and some stuff. I have a few songs that are special. 

14. What soccer talent would you most like to have? I think it would be the ability to use both of my feet equally well. It’s something that you always want to work toward. If I can eventually get to be as good with both feet I could be a way better player. 

15. What do you most value in your teammates?  I would say the passion that they bring to the pitch. As long as everyone is giving it their all and working for the team goal, that’s usually my biggest concern and that’s what I focus on the most.

16. What advice would you give to someone new to soccer? Just really appreciate the time that you have on the pitch because your time goes by fast and soccer is the best game in the world. Take full advantage of it while you can.

17. What sports and activities do you enjoy off the pitch?  I like hiking a lot. And camping and just hanging out with friends, stuff like that. I ski and snowboard as well. A lot of outdoor things I prefer to do now other than soccer, just to stay active. 

18. Where will we see you in 5 years? In five years hopefully you’ll see me out on the pitch at Stamford Bridge under the lights with Didier Drogba being my manager or something. In a dream world I’d be playing for Chelsea, but honestly I’m not sure where my career will take me. I’m not going to count out my potential and will just keep working as hard as I can.