Photo By Capt. Scott Walters | Spc. Adesile Okeowo (left), supply specialist, Company B,1st Battalion, 8th Infantry...... read more read more
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By 2nd Lt. Gunbold Ligden
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 4th Infantry Division
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania – On the southern outskirts of Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) on a cloudy, windy day, American and Romanian soldiers took to the pitch to speak a common language: soccer.
The 1st Battalion (“Fighting Eagles”), 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assembled a team two weeks ago in preparation for a 90-minute friendly match with Romanian military police from MK Air Base at MK Stadium.
“We have only been playing together for a little while and we have a long way to go as a team. Individually we are very talented, but we are continuing to develop our team play. Our team has a very high ceiling,” said Capt. Jonathan Batte, assistant operations officer and the Fighting Eagles’ defensive midfielder.
Spc. Adesile Okeowo, Fighting Eagles team captain and a supply specialist in Company B, took the initiative to recruit players, coordinate the event and act as a liaison to the combined-arms battalion’s Romanian counterparts. The Fighting Eagles are deployed to Romania and Bulgaria in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, U.S. Army Europe’s commitment to NATO Allies and partners to deter aggression in eastern Europe.
Okeowo, who also plays on the Fort Carson, Colorado, team when he is Stateside, said: “We all speak different languages, but everyone understands sports, especially soccer. One thing the whole world understands is soccer. My team and I grew closer with our Romanian players. It helps promote unity and peace.”
Sgt. Maj. Catalin Ionescu, with the military police company, helped organize the Romanian team.
“My Soldiers and I welcome the opportunity to play a beloved sport with our fellow American colleagues. This game helps us build our ‘team of teams’ so we can work better together in other endeavors,” he said.
The game was a nail biter coming down to the last three minutes, with the Romanians ultimately prevailing, 6-5. But the score hardly mattered as players shook hands, exchanged jerseys, and took photos with the U.S. and Romanian flags as a sign of respect for one another.
“What a great opportunity for us to bond with our Allies,” said 1st Lt. Samuel Jolley, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt. chemical officer and the team’s goalkeeper. “We really enjoyed the opportunity to play this international friendly and can’t wait for our next shot to play against the Romanians.”
Okeowo and Ionescu said they already are planning future matches and possibly a tournament.
The 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., is the first heavy brigade to deploy in continuous, “heel to toe” rotations of armored brigade combat teams from the United States. During the 9-month deployment, the brigade will complete a series of bilateral training engagements and multinational exercises aimed at strengthening collective defense and cooperative security.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2017 16:47 |
| Story ID: | 228666 |
| Location: | MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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