Love of soccer connects US, Iraqi kids

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, USA

[SandRat]

Maj. Tim Rustad, 49th Iraqi Army Brigade Military Transition Team, hands a soccer ball to an Iraqi child near Dibbis in Kirkuk province, Dec. 3. Soldiers from the MiTT began a soccer ball drive in November, receiving donations from friends and family in the States. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, 1st Cavalry Division.

KIRKUK — Soccer is one of the most enduring and popular sports in Iraq. Children can be seen here kicking the ball around at any given time of the day on fields made of dirt.

In support of this national pastime, Soldiers from the Military Transition Team in Kirkuk province began a soccer-ball drive in mid-November.

Major Tim Rustad, a Mankato, Minn., native and officer in charge of the 49th Iraqi Army Brigade MiTT, said he and his Soldiers initiated the drive to give something back to the community they visit so often.

"We wanted to have an event where we could give back to the kids in the local area," Rustad said. "We always gave them candy when we passed by, but they would always hold their hands in the air."

According to Rustad, the Iraqi Soldiers informed them the reason the children would hold their hands up was because they wanted soccer balls. Using this information, the MiTT began informing friends and family back home of their need for soccer balls.

"I started telling them to send soccer balls to give to the children in the local area, and Nov. 10, we started the drive to get the balls," he said.

Rustad said there have been more than 100 soccer balls sent with 200 more on the way.

Even U.S. schoolchildren have gotten involved, as a girls’ soccer team from Rustad’s hometown sent 38 soccer balls.

Each soccer ball has the message "From American kids to Iraqi kids" written in Arabic.

The children receiving the soccer balls were very happy for the gift.

"We have a soccer field made of dirt, but with new soccer balls it doesn't matter," said one Iraqi child. "Thank you to the American children."

Iraqi Army Soldiers join the U.S. troops on soccer ball deliveries, enhancing trust between the IA and the citizens they protect.

"Passing out the balls gives the 49th an opportunity to get out into the community and meet the people," Rustad said.

Although Rustad and his team are planning to move to a different Iraqi province in the coming weeks, he said they plan to continue delivering soccer balls to the children at the schools there.

(By Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, 1st Cavalry Division)

[SandRat]

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[tet68]

Lord, wait till they discover real football!

[SoftwareEngineer]

Typical communist plot!!!

Why are we still playing girly soccer with them when we could teach them REAL Football...

I blame Obama, Clinton and Europe for this...

[cowtowney]

good story. I wish they had an address so I could send some soccer balls.

[JTD]

I will get the address and send it to you. That specific team isn’t working in our area any longer but they are continuing the drive. I leave in two days to return to the states after a year but, I will make sure if you would like to send anything that you have an address.