Football or soccer everybody had fun

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

10.10.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Afghan, American, Bahraini, British and Danish service members participated in a soccer tournament at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Oct. 10.

Working twelve-plus-hour days for six months to a year can become very mundane for any service member. An opportunity to get out and have some fun with other members of coalition forces gives everyone a break and builds morale between coalition forces.

“Its nice to get out of the work station,” said Lance Cpl. Edmund Burke, a nuclear biological chemical specialist from 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. “It raises morale for the Marines gets them to be together doing something different than their normal work day.”

As expected, because of the popularity of the sport in their country, the British team won the tournament by defeating the Afghan 215th Corps’ team in the final match.

Soccer is very popular among the Afghan people. Many of them had been playing for the majority of their lives and put up quite a fight against all of the different services.

Morale was one of the most important reasons for holding the tournament. Not only are other coalition forces away from their family and friends the Afghan soldiers are also taken away from their family.

“It’s entertainment for the ANA soldiers that are away from their family and its good for them,” Ghlam Harzart, a soldier from the Afghan National Army’s 215th Corps.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2010
• Date Posted: 10.17.2010 10:26
• Story ID: 58265
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF