Dr. Williams is a respected doctor with over 45 years’ experience practicing family care medicine and occupational healthy in Columbus. With his brother, Dr. Williams launched the Columbus Metro Soccer Association Recreational League (CMSA) in 1985 which was designed to provide access to soccer for children living in the inner city of Columbus. Through the CMSA, Dr. Williams created “The Zulus”, an elite traveling U-8 soccer team he coached for three years that would go on to leave a significant impact on the game of soccer in Ohio and every player that Coach Williams taught.

“I’m very excited and honored to have been selected as the recipient of the 2024 MLS All-Star Honorary Hero, not only personally, but also on behalf of all the wonderful parents, families, and volunteers who embraced the vision of materializing a concept of an inner-city soccer program in Columbus, OH into a reality. Today, we see the fruits of our labor as many of the tiny footballers went on to have illustrious soccer experiences at the high-school, collegiate and MLS level and are now “soccer moms and dads” themselves. We are proud that the Columbus Metro Soccer Association made its contribution to the blossoming of the Beautiful Game we see today in the MLS and world over.”

— Dr. Anthony Williams
Dr. Anthony Williams