National police officers and spectators wave flags and cheer during a game a FC Unity soccer game at Shaab Stadium, May 23, in the Rusafa District of eastern Baghdad. Thirty-six soccer games, 32 community games and four combined U.S.-Iraqi forces games will be played during the tournament. FC Unity, a London-based organization, promotes the development of unity through soccer-based programs. Photo by Staff Sgt. James Selesnick

Cheers, music and fun filled the famed Shaab stadium during a two-day soccer tournament held, May 22 and 23, in eastern Baghdad’s Rusafa District.

The tournament symbolizes the success of a month-long effort between FC Unity, a London-based organization, and U.S. and Iraqi officials to provide the people of Iraq a platform for development and education through a series of soccer programs.

As a sense of normalcy continues to fill the Iraqi capital, Paratroopers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division—Baghdad and Iraqi security forces, wanted to demonstrate the improved security is here to stay.

“It is a normality of life that we can all come out here and play, Americans and Iraqis together and also Iraqis of different backgrounds regardless of their religious, ethnic and social backgrounds can come together and play football,” said Yamam Nabeel, chief executive of FC Unity. “If people around the world can see how the U.S. military interacts with the Iraqi people, it shows a different picture to the world that the U.S. Army is here to help the Iraqis build a strong and viable society.”

“We are here to bring smiles to the faces of the young people,” he added. The tournament, which was open to the public, consisted of 32 community games and four games combining American Soldiers and Iraqis security forces.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Paratroopers handed out soccer jerseys and other equipment to many of the children who participated in the event.

“We want to give the Iraqi people its culture back and a big part of that culture is sports, and in Iraq, sports means soccer,” said Lt. Col. Michael Shinners in a television interview via satellite to the United States. Shinners, of Arlington, Va., serves as the deputy commander of the 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

For American Paratroopers participating in the event, playing soccer in a combat zone is something they could have never envisioned when they first deployed to Baghdad in late-2008.

“This is a huge step in what we are doing here,” said Spc. John MacMurray, an intelligence specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. “This event has really helped us earn the trust of the Iraqi citizens.”

During halftime, MacMurray took a break from the action and reenlisted in the middle of the field for an additional four years of military service. The Minerva, Ohio native, said the experience of reenlisted in front of so many people is something he will always treasure.

The spirit of the weekend will live on in the minds of all who participated for years to come.

“We had a lot of fun this weekend, and we built great friendships with the American Soldiers,” said one national police officer. “That was the point of this weekend, to have fun and have a great time.”

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea

Rusafa district area leaders gave power to Rusafa citizens when they conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, turning on micro-power generators in Muhalla 125 of eastern Baghdad July 24.

Iraqi Brig. Gen. Latif Mohammed, Rusafa district police commander and Abass Hassan Hamud, a neighborhood council chairman for Muhalla 125, were two of the dignitaries present to help bring readily available electricity to area residents.

“We defeated all the criminals around us, and now we are progressing,” Mohammed said. “Criminals are behind us, and we have to do something in favor of our neighborhoods.”

Mohammed said the micro-generators are proof of what he claimed about defeating criminals and improving life in the area, and construction projects are on the agenda in Rusafa as well.

Iraqi officials selected Muhalla 125 to receive the two generators, along with a third generator at another location, to serve the people in the neighborhood.

“This is a good start,” said Mohammed. “We are doing further things for the people of this muhalla.”

Hamud thanked everyone responsible for helping bring electricity to Muhalla 125, including Coalition forces. This is a very special moment for us here,” declared Hamud. “These generators will help … 1,000 families.”

Hamud said Muhalla 125 residents used to rely only on the main grid for power, which sometimes would only provide power for two or three hours. The generators will allow for electricity on a more continuous basis.

Maj. John Schulz, a civil affairs officer with the 418th Civil Affairs Detachment, said the project to bring micro-generators to Muhalla 125 residents began in May unit representatives asked Rusafa officials who most needed electricity. They selected Muhalla 125, Schulz said.

Schulz said the project could serve as a model for everyone else in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light) who works with similar interests to follow.

There are 300 residences already hooked up to the generators, said Schultz. Other area residents may be added, but in the meantime businesses in Muhalla 125 may be hooked up to the generators, too.

The last project to bring electricity to Muhalla 125 in a major way occurred in 1963, said Schultz. Since then, the muhalla has been ignored for the most part, primarily because of its old buildings and narrow streets, which make it difficult to access the area with equipment necessary to do the job.

Hamud said the next improvement Hamud will push for in the area is a long-term sewage solution.

“It’s a very big impact on people to have electricity,” said Hamud. “I would like to thank the Coalition, the American side. It’s a great thing giving use this service.”

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