DC United became the first Major League Soccer club to support You Can Play when head coach Ben Olsen and players Mike Chabala and Chris Pontius spoke up in support of LGBT athletes.
Olsen is a Pennsylvania native who was named Soccer America Player of the Year during his junior year at the University of Virginia. One of the best, and most popular players in DC United history, Olsen was named head coach in 2010 and in 2012, Olsen was inducted into the DC United Hall of Tradition.
Chabala and Pontius are both California natives, with Chabala attending the University of Washington and Pontius playing at UC Santa Barbara. Both are veterans of US Open Cup and CONCACAF play. Chabala also has appeared in the No H8 anti-discrimination campaign.
“We are united in support of all our teammates, coaches and fans – gay or straight.”