There stood Christopher Jumalon one July afternoon in Colorado just a few steps from David Beckham, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder and America’s first international soccer icon in more than three decades. Beckham presented Jumalon with the Soccer United Marketing Cup as captain of D.C. United’s SUM Under-17 team while camera flashes sparkled through the crowd of more than 18,000 fans.

To stand next to arguably the sport’s most captivating figure was the climax of a summer filled with influential moments for Jumalon. A whirlwind of games and training alongside D.C. United first-teamers convinced Jumalon that his future, for now, is centered on becoming a professional soccer player.

The Waldorf-native and Thomas Stone High School star has decided not to play boys soccer his senior year in what both Jumalon and his parents acknowledge is tantamount to a career decision. Instead, he’ll direct his focus to the D.C. United Under-18 season that begins Sept. 15.

‘‘It was a tough decision at first,” Jumalon said. ‘‘I was torn. I loved playing at Stone. I enjoyed it. But I also had to weigh the benefits. Both would be taking each other’s time. This U-18 season would be crucial to me in my growth as a player.”

The decision essentially splits ties between Jumalon and Charles County soccer, where his skills were nourished and discovered. Jumalon enjoyed a decorated career at Stone, leading the SMAC in goals scored on his way to being named Charles County player of the year, and he would certainly have been a featured player this season for Coach Tom Parker’s team.

But Jumalon said this summer’s experiences brought to reality his chances of fulfilling a boyhood dream and forced him to choose between a potential future with D.C. United and the present joys playing for Stone.

‘‘D.C. United could come to me today with an offer and I would sign in a heartbeat,” Jumalon said. ‘‘I’ve liked D.C. United since I was a kid. You feel at home when you go to practice with all the players. Wearing the logo badge gives you a sense of pride.”

Jumalon was first scouted when he tried out for D.C. United’s Super Y-League Under-15 team. Major League Soccer was just then beginning to conceptualize a structure of youth development academies for each professional team.

Jumalon was the first of three players signed by United in January to be trained, developed and treated like professionals. The franchise can sign players to a contract after two years in the academy without going through the league draft.

Since January, Jumalon has become part of D.C. United’s first class to commit to its Youth Academy that lets teenagers play soccer year round and chase their dreams.

‘‘I’m expecting to get college exposure,” Jumalon said, ‘‘and D.C. United first-team exposure. I want to learn and grow as a player, be around the pros, training and everything to go to the highest level.”

Everything from the physical demands to the stakes involved has become greater. College trips are soon to come; Jumalon said he’s all but made up his mind to attend the University of Virginia. Senior year still looms ahead.

And all this success and decision-making has come as suddenly as the summer has disappeared. Jumalon’s parents find themselves marveling at their son.

‘‘I thought he handled himself well,” Christopher’s mom, Mitzy Jumalon, said, ‘‘with all the pop and circumstances this summer. This team, when it won [the SUM Cup] he got phone calls and e-mails and everyone in the world seems like they’re reaching out to him. I was really impressed with how poised he was in this. I wasn’t surprised, because he’s that kind of kid. He’s like that on the soccer field as well.”

Chris Jumalon was just like any other 5 year old -- anxious to kick the ball.  He didn’t need to score, just kick the ball.  His parents, Chris Sr and Mitzy, were smiling ear to ear watching their oldest son having so much fun on the soccer field.  Chris continued playing recreational soccer with the Waldorf SC until he tried out for the Waldorf Vipers, coached by Gene Hile.  Chris still plays for the Vipers, but they are now coached and trained by Rodney Fugitt.  Along with the training that Chris received from Coach Fugitt, he also attended several soccer camps; some at the Bryantown Sports Complex and others at local colleges.

 

Chris’s hard work allowed him to sign a contract in January to play soccer for the DC United U17 team.  In July, Chris was named as Captain of the team by the coaching staff.   The team went to Colorado and won the inaugural MLS Youth Cup.   If you would like more information on Chris please click on the "Club News" link on the left side of this page.

1/26/07 WASHINGTON, D.C. - D.C United announced today three local players have committed to D.C. United youth teams and will be part of the year-round U-14 and U-16 programs. Michael Funes and Chris Jumalon have committed to the U-16 team while Henry Bain will be a part of the U-14 team.

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Funes attends Montgomery Blair High School and helped bring a Division Championship to the school. The 16-year old currently plays with the Potomac Cougars.

"Michael is a special player, with a real passion for the game," said United Youth Development Director John Maessner. "He has a natural ability to find the back of the net and we want to continue to develop him into a player that will be able to play at the highest level!"

Jumalon hails from Waldorf, Maryland and has already garnered numerous honors at the high school level as a part of Thomas Stone High School. After leading the SMAC in goals scored, the 16-year old was named as the Charles Count Player of the Year and to the All-County 1st Team.

"Chris is a very talented and powerful player with lots of potential," said Maessner. "Chris will be a great player to have in our system and he will benefit greatly from being around the best players in the area. One of the Chris’s strengths is his ability to play different positions very well which makes him a valuable asset to the team."

14-year old Henry Bain is a native of Olney, Maryland and competed in middle school as a member of Rosa Parks Middle School and with the Olney Pumas.

"Henry is a player that we feel this New System can really help," said Judah Cooks, coach of the U-14 team. "He has all the tools and is very dedicated on doing whatever he needs to do to get to the next level. He can play multiple positions from the back to the front and has a knack of scoring big goals in big games."

The three players are not strangers to the Black-and-Red nor each other, as they were a part of United’s successful U-15 and U-13 youth teams that qualified for the Super Y-League National Championships last year.

The players are D.C.’s first to be brought in under MLS’s youth development initiative, which will allow clubs’ senior teams to sign players that they have developed to professional contracts without going through the SuperDraft. For 2007, D.C. United has expanded their pre-existing youth program to field teams at the U-20, U-16, U-14 and U-13 boys’ levels and at the U-15 and U-14 girls’ levels. The U-16 and U-14 boys’ teams will train and compete year-round, while the rest of the teams will play during the summer months.

The MSYSA Executive Board recently concluded considerations regarding adopting a license requirement for Maryland coaches.  It was the decision of the Executive Board that Head Coaches of MSYSA rostered travel teams should have at least a USSF “E” license or its equivalent, the NSCAA Regional Diploma.  The “E” license involves an 18 hour course given over a two day weekend and is the course designed for coaching young players between the ages of 10 – 14, the age range where “travel” teams are typically formed.  This policy will be effective September 1, 2007.