ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – It might be the offseason for the UCF women's soccer team, but that hasn't slowed down head coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. She spent just over a week on back-to-back trips to Albania and Belarus as an ambassador with the U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy Program.
Roberts Sahaydak began her trip in Tirana, Albania. As a sport envoy, she visited schools, put on clinics, and gave speeches.
"One of the cool things we did was that we went to madrasa, which is a Muslim school," Roberts Sahaydak said. "These girls don't play soccer at all, but we got to do a soccer clinic with them. They were so open. We were just received so well, and their attitudes towards playing were so great. It was really fun playing with them for the first time. They were so inspired and said that they want to play soccer again."
After her time in Tirana, she flew to Minsk, Belarus, for a second envoy. A typical day started with a formal meeting, then a clinic for a non-profit organization followed by a speech to a class at a sports university.
One of the formal meetings was special for the Olympic gold medalist.
"We met with the Olympic committee officials in Belarus," Roberts Sahaydak said. "They showed us their Olympic headquarters and Olympic museum. I brought my medals with me and I was able to share them. They told us about the strengths and challenges of being in an Olympic committee. They asked us questions, and we shared our views of sport and our country. There's a little bit of an exchange."
Roberts Sahaydak is no stranger to the program. Since the U.S. Soccer Federation partnered with the U.S. State Department in 2006, she has served as a sports envoy and made similar trips over the years to Uganda, Philippines, Thailand, Namibia, France, Brazil and Indonesia.
Being a head coach, wife, mom and having a commitment to the U.S. Youth National Team fills up Roberts Sahaydak's calendar, but she always finds the time to make a trip for the sports envoy.
"Every time I go to a new country, I meet new people, experience a new culture and learn new views," Roberts Sahaydak said. "I feel like it really rounds me out and gives me a new perspective every time I come back. I feel like I'm a better coach, mom and wife after taking part in these trips. Culturally, you just learn so much. It just impacts my life in so many ways that it's hard to say no. It's really an honor, because you're representing the United States when you go."