Texas Soldier Brings Soccer, Unity to Northern Iraqi Village

By Sgt. Christopher Kozloski

3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. forces, Iraqi Security Forces and key political leaders of Wanah, a village in northern Iraq, gathered to celebrate the opening of a soccer field and watched the first soccer match played there.

For the Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Soldiers who helped make it happen, and the Wanah community, the soccer field meant more than just a place to play the game.

Captain John Bradley, the Btry. A commander, and his Soldiers were responsible for the main coordination and planning efforts that led to the construction of the soccer field.

An excited audience looks on as two soccer teams go head-to-head in a friendly soccer match to celebrate the opening of the soccer field in Wanah, a village in northern Iraq (Courtesy Photo)

"Through the help of the Muhktar and [political] leaders of Wanah, the U.S. forces coordinated and funded the project in order to help the people of Wanah," said Capt. Bradley a Plano, Texas, native.

The grand opening ceremony began with a short speech by Mohammed Abdullah, the local leader of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan. In his speech, Abdullah spoke both Arabic and Kurdish, stating that, "one soccer field for all the people of Wanah is like one Iraq for all Iraqis".

After the opening remarks, Col. Gary Volesky, the 3 "Greywolf" Heavy Brigade Combat Team commander, joined the key leaders and Iraqi Security Forces that were on hand to cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of the soccer field.

The soccer teams from Wanah and Mosul Dam meet on the field before playing against each other to signify the opening of the soccer field in Wanah, a village in northern Iraq. (Courtesy Photo)

After the celebration a game of soccer started between a Wanah soccer team and a team from the Mosul Dam. Following the soccer scrimmage, the Btry. A Soldiers distributed more than 30 soccer balls, bags and shin guards that had been donated by Capt. Bradley's friends and family from Texas.

"My family and friends in America wanted to show their support for our mission here and help show the Iraqi people we are here to work for one Iraq," Capt. Bradley said.

The ceremony and the fun that followed equated into a great event, according to Col. Volesky. "Abdullah gave a great speech that focused on how both Arabs and Kurds should work together for the country of Iraq and not for the benefit of individuals or groups" he added.

According to Col. Volesky, projects like this do a few different things.

First Lieutenant Jim Cabrera, with 2nd Bn., 82nd FA, hands a soccer ball to a local teenager in Wanah after opening a soccer field in the village. Soccer balls and equipment were donated by family and friends of 2nd Bn., 82nd FA Regt. (Courtesy Photo)

He said that the projects show the Iraqi communities that U.S. forces are here to help improve the quality of life for the people and support community needs within those areas.

"More importantly," he said, "these types of projects give the youth of the community an activity to participate in that builds upon the principles of cooperation, being part of a team and working towards a common goal. These are principles that will be a great foundation on which to build the future of Iraq."