Courtesy Photo | A U.S. team take a group photo with Romanian team after a soccer game, as part of...... read more read more
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GRAFENWOEHR TRAINING AREA, Germany – Soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in soccer games with their allies and partners all around Europe, as part of Esprit de Corps among participants, earlier this month, at Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Air Base, Romania.
"We are here to assure our allies and partners of the U.S., our continuous commitment and dedication to peace and security as well as deter external aggression,” said Spc. Adesile Okeowo who’s the coach and team captain of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. “That can be done in a million ways. Most of us do not speak any of the languages of the countries we train with but we all speak one common language which is understood all over the world and that is soccer; everyone at least knows that once the ball goals into the net that is a goal."
He recruited and coordinated the team and also acted as a liaison between the team and the allies.
The game started off with the Romanian Military Police team at the MK Soccer Stadium in which the host defeated the U.S. Team in the first leg, but paid dearly for it in the second. The U.S. Team went on to defeat the MK Helicopter Team as well as the MK Soccer Club, thereby qualifying for the U.S. Embassy Annual Europe Soccer Tournament in Bucharest, Romania.
The winning streak of the Fighting Eagles Team continued in NSTA, Bulgaria, where the team played a host of games with Soldiers from different countries who participated in the Saber Guardian exercise. The US Army defeated the British, Bulgarian, Georgian, Hungarian and Slovenian teams except the Spaniards.
"Playing friendly games and competing in tournaments with different countries serve as a way of engaging in community involvement, and building friendship. This is geared towards fostering mutual trust and understanding as well as the spirit of camaraderie among our NATO allies.”
Okeowo also played on the Fort Carson, Colorado team.
The Soldiers find playing soccer is a way to unwind and have fun.
"Playing soccer is a way for us to unwind after work, enjoy what we love doing while also maintaining a very good physical fitness,” said Spc. Akeem Alade, an assistant coach for Charlie Company, 1-8 Inf. Regt., 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. “We proved to these countries that we may not speak their language but the U.S. is capable of communicating with them in the language we both understand which is Soccer. We can create friendship and mutual trust for the accomplishment of the NATO mission by training, fighting and playing soccer side-by-side."
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.06.2017 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 247209 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, DE |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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