CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — Soldiers with the 17th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), played a friendly game of soccer with officers from the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, or Kuwait Police, here June 2, 2016.
Before the game started, players from both teams posed for a combined photo. It was just one of many photos taken that night as the American and Kuwaiti soccer players snapped numerous selfies and group shots together.
Maj. Beau Vinatieri, the 17th SB's team coach and personnel officer-in-charge, then presented the KMOI team with a plaque commemorating the game.
"Soccer is an international sport that everyone wants to play," said Vinatieri.
Lt. Col. Abdullah Al Ebrahim, an officer with the KMOI, agreed. He said that playing with the U.S. Soldiers was very fun because soccer, or "futbol," is one of the main forms of physical fitness in his organization.
Once the game began, players on both sides enjoyed a competitive and close contest.
At halftime, the Kuwaiti team led 2-1. The Kuwaitis scored another goal right after the start of the second half, but the U.S. team, bolstered by having a greater number of substitutes, then scored a flurry of goals to lead 5-3.
Toward the end of the game, the Kuwaiti team got its second wind. While they were able to offensively dominate the U.S. team, they only scored once just minutes before the end of the game. The final score was 5-4, with the 17th SB coming out on top.
After the game concluded, players from both teams expressed an interest in playing again, and Al Ebrahim compared playing the game to working with the U.S. service members.
The two organizations work together all the time, and a friendly game like this builds a good working relationship. By doing an activity together, the two allies can also learn new skills and strategies from each other.
The 17th SB civil affairs team and KMOI worked for several weeks to coordinate the event.
"This was a great event for us," said Sgt. First Class Charles Rooker, a civil affairs NCO assigned to the 17th SB. "My role was to communicate with the KMOI and get them on post."
The 17th SB would also like to expand these events and play other coalition partners in the future. "It would be nice to get a multi-national tournament together," said Rooker.
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