Kyrgyz defeat Transit Center soccer team

Published July 12, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- Players from the Kyrgyz Soccer Federation staff narrowly defeated a Transit Center at Manas soccer team with a 5-4 victory in Bishkek July 9. The game was the fourth friendly match between the two groups -- it was also the fourth victory for the Kyrgyz team.

"We have won everything, but that is not the most important part; what is important to us is the relationship with our friends," said Nurtazin Djetyeaee, Kyrgyz Soccer Federation general secretary.

The Kyrgyz team was formed of soccer federation staff members, the coach of the women's national team and a player from the women's national team. A group of players from various squadrons across the Transit Center made up the American team.

"I haven't really played with most people on the team (before)," said Staff Sgt. Stephen Martinez, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron patrolman. "It's good getting to know each other and interacting with everyone."

The games between the two nations typically take place at the Transit Center on an indoor basketball court; however, this game was held in the capital on the federation's soccer field. The change of location made a big difference in how the American team played, according to Martinez, deployed from Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.

"That is a really big field," said the Anchorage, Alaska, native. "I haven't played outdoors like this in a real long time."

The size of the field was not the only thing that set Martinez off kilter.

"The opposing team surprised me, they are pretty skilled players," he said. "Their passing and form got them through everything. They just passed around us. I wasn't expecting the game to be of this caliber. I was expecting an easy game. I was expecting to win; I'm a pretty competitive person. But at the end of the day, we all had a good time."

The spectators old and young continued to fill into the bleachers throughout the match to watch the action unfold.

"They told us they were going to bring a lot of fans and they were really looking forward to playing," said Capt. Michael Povilus, Theater Security Cooperation social cultural branch chief, who helped coordinate the event. "They are very curious about us, and through the common language of sports we all have so much more in common than the few things that divide us. This is a good example of the greater relationship that we have in Kyrgyzstan."

For now the Kyrgyz team maintains their winning streak, but when the two teams meet again, perhaps the underdog will capture a win.