CHESTER, Pa. (June 6, 2019) – With Bethlehem Steel FC’s first match of June 2019 coming up this weekend, team captain James Chambers will once again be raising money for LGBTQ rights through the Playing For Pride campaign. Chambers will be joined by teammates and former Union academy players Zach Zandi and Ben Ofeimu, who will both be participating in Playing For Pride for the first time.
“I think that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally, so anything that I can do to help a community I’m going to do,” said Zandi. “That’s really the main reason why I’m joining the campaign. I just want to try and help people as much as I can with the platform that I have.”
Playing For Pride is organized by North Carolina co-captain Austin da Luz and started two seasons ago. During the 2017 and 2018 campaigns, more than 150 professional soccer players across MLS, USL and the NWSL raised over $40,000 to benefit Athlete Ally. The nonprofit was founded by Hudson Taylor. The organization’s mission is to “end the rampant homophobia and transphobia in sport and activate the athletic community to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQ equality.”
“I just feel like everyone should be treated equally,” noted Ofeimu. “It’s a good cause, it’s just a little bit of money, but it goes a long way.”
Both Chambers and Zandi have pledged to donate five dollars for every appearance and $10 for each goal and assist during the month of June. Ofeimu is planning to donate five dollars per appearance, clean sheet and game won, as well as $10 per goal and assist. Fans wanting to donate can sponsor the Steel players and any other player here.
