Captain Zebullah

Lieutenant Joshua Pogue set a meeting for me to meet with Captain Zebullah, the assistant S-3 officer for 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan National Army on Sunday. I went to the meeting very excited as this would possibly be a small new chapter for the Afghanistan Water Polo story. Bringing organized swimming and water polo to Helmand Province would be a big undertaking, just like starting the 201^st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team in Pol-e-Charki.

Josh was nice enough to coordinate a linguist to join us. Hakim, who has been working with Josh over the past few months, is a very nice Afghan who has been very interested in the Afghanistan National Water Polo project since Josh told him about it.

Captain Zebullah offered for me to sit in his chair in his office and also offered all the chai that we could drink and all of the treats that we could eat. He wanted to know everything there was to know about me. Where I was from, where I worked here, about my family, and the all important question, if I had any children. I answered all of his questions and asked the same questions of him. He also tried to add the few English words and phrases that he knew into the conversation. I was very impressed by his language abilities, especially since he just started learning English, his sixth language.

Captain Zebullah was very keen on the idea of starting a swim and water polo team aboard Shorabak. He was very concerned on who was going to fix the pool and how we were going to determine who was going to be on the team. I told him to work with the Shorabak Garrison Commander on fixing the pool and the selection of the team. I suggested that the 205th Corps and Shorabak Garrison can select soldiers from all of the units. He concurred and said that my idea was very fair. He then asked what I and the Marines could do to fix the pool. I explained that the request to fix the pool must go to the Shorabak Garrison Commander and he will work it. He said he would take care of it.

As I had to go back to work, we said our goodbyes. It was a great meeting and I am looking forward to the next meeting with Captain Zebullah about introducing water polo to Helmand Province Afghanistan.

Mohibrehman

On Christmas Day, 2009, I am sitting here at work in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. I am in Afghanistan serving in the capacity of a United States Marine, not as the Head Water Polo Coach for the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. I have been here since the beginning of last month and am missing the entire holiday season. No Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, birthdays, and special events to be spent with my family. I am missing even more of my children's' lives.

I am also saddened by the news I received today. With the help of a linguist, I spoke with Ahmad Shah over the phone, receiving an updated status on compiling all of the information required to obtain passports. Another athlete on the team has passed. He too was an ANA soldier. In particular, he was a commando in the Afghan National Army. He died while serving his country, fighting against the Taliban. And he definitely called the Taliban "The enemy of his country."

Mohibrehman was about 27 years old. Like many Afghans, he did not have a birth certificate. Just an estimate from his family of when he was born. He was from the village of Shahi, in Laghman Province. He was a very reserved man. He remained focus and only spoke when he had something very important to say or a very inquisitive question to ask.

Mohibrehman was a first sergeant in the 201st Commando Kandak. It was the same unit that I mentored while I was in Afghanistan last year. I saw him a few times a week through the course of my duties but it was through the creation of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team where I really came to know him. He quickly emerged as a natural leader of the team. Just like I would see him training his soldiers through a weapons range, clearing buildings, teaching classes, or leading his company in unit physical training (He was the only leader that I ever saw on the Pol-e-Charki Base leading a platoon size or larger unit in a formation run); he would lead the team during drills, scrimmages, stretching, or dryland training. He always ensured that all of his teammates were ready to practice both mentally and physically, were quiet during instruction, and always asked important questions to ensure that all of his teammates understood what I was trying to communicate.

Prior to the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team, he never swam in a pool before. Mohibrehman never participated in organized sports before. He never encountered the game of water polo. This did not deter him from wanting to excel and become a good athlete and great leader for the team.

If you were to say the name Mohibrehman, the first three memories that come to mind are:

1. Mohibrehman would make sure all of the athletes of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team stayed hydrated throughout the day and even made sure that they all ate enough food as the Afghan National Army chow hall on Pol-e-Charki did not always have enough food. As they would walk up the long hill, he would have refilled water bottles that he would make them drink and would always have extra fruit in his cargo pockets. Even in the Commando chow hall, he would make sure all of the athletes were served enough food and ate it all. He would not allow them to drink anything else other than water.

2. I had a problem with an athlete on the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team during the first week of practice. On the third day of practice, I had it with him. He was too disruptive during practice and was a distraction for everyone. At the end of the practice, I told all of the athletes to get out of the water and to line up in groups of five, for some final sprints. As everyone was lining up, this athlete decided to do a cannonball into the water. After he figured out that I was not amused, he quickly got out of the water and in line. After the sprints were completed, but before I could call this athlete over, Mohibrehman came up to me and told me that he would take care of it. Take care of it? What did that mean? Mohibrehman was only a First Sergeant and the athlete that was causing problems was a Captain. Well, I game Mohibrehman a chance and I never had a problem with this athlete. He actually turned out to be one of the biggest assets of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team.

3. During the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team Tryouts in 2008, he not only made sure that all of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team athletes stretched and prepared for the tryouts, he directed all of the athletes participating in the tryouts to stretch with the team. He did this knowing that this may reduce the chance that he and the other athletes on the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team would have to make the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. He also made sure that they were prepared everyday for the tryouts, directing them to stay hydrated and ensured that they ate enough during the day. He even arranged for a place to stay for the athletes who came from 8-10 hours away.

He took the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team and the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team very seriously. Maybe it was because of his natural leadership, seriousness demeanor, it was the first time he was in an organized sport, or because he did not want to lose the opportunity to swim in a pool, spend quality time with his comrades, or be part of a sports team. However, I will not be able to ever ask him questions like these again.

He was a great man and he will be sorely missed, by his family, friends, villagers, Commandos that he led, and by his teammates, both on the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team and by the athletes on the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. I hope one day I will be able to meet his family and explain to them what I thought about him, my sorrow for their loss, and his contribution to Afghanistan as an athlete and leader of the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team and more importantly, as a hero for his country as a Commando in the Afghan National Army.

Two Athletes on the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team have Died

Over the past year, I have received phone calls, emails, or questions directly from people that heard what we are doing and ask me questions or say to me:

"Is the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team is a joke?"

"Are you serious?"

"That is too funny. "

"Is this for real?"

Two athletes on the team have died in combat operations in Afghanistan. I was told this today by Rohullah Marouf, the Swim Chair, at the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee. Abdullah Tahiri, Scott McCook, and I were on a conference call with him about the passports for the athletes today. He is trying to get more information on who specifically died.

Once Rohullah said this, and Abdullah translated, I felt like I was going to vomit. Most likely, these athletes were also on the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team, who I spent many months with, training them, teaching them something new, making them smile, and taking them away from the war, even for a few minutes of their lives. These athletes could also have been in the 201st Commando Kandak (Battalion), which meant I probably worked with them every day for a year, spent time with them mentoring them their jobs, drinking tea with them, talking about sports, movies, and current affairs, and even watched soap operas in Farsi with them.

I was thinking about what a short life that these athletes, who were also soldiers in the Afghan National Army, had. I started thinking about their families. What if they were married or had children? Who is going to provide for their family now? Who is going to be the father of their children? Who is going to teach their children to do the right things in life, educate them? Who is going to stop the Taliban from educating these children, taking their families' food, and harming their families? Who is going to protect this family, or the village they live in from the Taliban?

All of these feelings, questions, and concerns, and I still do not know exactly who was killed. Once I know this information, I know I will be sick. I will be sick because I did not move fast enough. I should have:

Moved faster,

Convinced more people to get involved,

Had our elected officials in office move faster,

Somehow convinced some airline executive to provide air travel,

Been more effective in contacting a decision maker at the US Department of State that could provide guidance and support of this project.

Closed deals with affluent individuals and big corporations on donations and sponsorships...

The list is endless of things that I could done better and more of. But the fact remains that there are now two less heroes that Afghanistan could have had. Two less upstanding citizens who really could have unified their country, shown their countrymen what could be accomplished, shown the children of a very poor and war-torn country how to dream, build cultural bridges between Afghanistan and countries of the Western World, and shared their future personal, cultural, educational, and business experiences in other countries with people in their villages, provinces, and country, to make Afghanistan a better place.

I will never be able to talk with these athletes again, shake their hands, hug them, listen to them, see their excitement when they talk about the future, see them with true happiness in the pool, or watch them learn something new.

If I would have just made this project happen more quickly, these athletes would not have been killed fighting the Taliban, or even in a war zone for that matter. They would have been in the United States training as a team for water polo. They never saw a place without war, they never had an opportunity to make their country a better place, they never got to see why America and the Western World are so great, and they never became heroes for their country, a country that needs heroes so desperately.

This was not a case of could have, should have, would have.

This was a case of could not have and should not have had this opportunity in a million years. And then, they died. Before they would partake in the impossible feat of having a national water polo team in Afghanistan that would be following the pathway to the Olympic Dream.

This is for real. This is so real, and I failed to save two lives. My record now for losing people involved in water polo in Afghanistan is three. How many national team athletes has your country's national team lost today, this week, this month, this year, or this decade?

Riding Around Pol-e-Charki

Tom Pfingsten, from the North County Times, in San Diego, expressed interest in doing a story on the team and what we have been accomplishing. Once he established contact with us, we immediately fed him a lot of information, stories, photos, and the few videos we had. He seemed to be putting together a good story.

Since it is Ramadan, the team is not working out and I did not have any video of the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. Tom wanted video of the team working out and I could not provide it. It is one of the many things that I should have done when I had a chance. But I am only one person and it would have been too difficult, and weird, if I were trying to run the national team tryouts and videotaping the whole thing at the same time.

Tom asked me if I could give him a lay of the land. He decided it would be best, and asked me if I could go around the base at Pol-e-Charki and take photos and video of what was there. He was trying to make a deadline, and since that deadline was in two days, I thought that I should hurry and get it for him. I jumped on an ATV after work and drove around the base. I made a loop, first I by driving to the pool, then to the 201st Corps area, 3rd Brigade, one of the bone yards, and finally back to the area that I live in.

The many videos are quite interesting and can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/AfghanistanWaterPolo?v=app_2392950137.



Tom's article came out quite well and is the first major news story on us. He even got it placed on the front page of the paper and has a very nice video online (I wonder where he got the footage from). The North County Time's article can be found here: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/10/01/news/inland/fallbrook/z05238a4ad97f3a4b882574ce0008fad4.txt.

It is very exciting that we were able to kick off our awareness campaign this way. Scott McCook did a great job getting the North County Times motivated to do a story. We will see what kind of response that we will get from this.

Agreeing to coach the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team

After a week of Leilani and I discussing and praying about the opportunity that Rohullah Marouf, the Swim Chair at the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, presented us with, Leilani and I agreed that we would proceed. I asked Reshad to arrange a meeting with Rohullah so we can discuss this. I did not tell Reshad what my answer was as I was going to make sure that everything was in place with the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee before I started advertising this project.

Once the meeting was set, I told Abdul Kholic what our plan was and he offered to provide the armed escort. He was very excited about this as he hoped that I would say yes to the opportunity presented to me. He, just like many others, think that this is such a great honor. I do not think they realize the vast responsibility that is associated with this. We are starting this from scratch, to include the fact that there is absolutely no funding. Upon Abdul Kholic's question of what my answer would be, I told him he would have to wait until after the meeting. I am sure that he was confident that he knew the answer because all of a sudden he was in a good mood, after a week of him being irritated with me and trying to convince me to do this.

We went to the Ministry of Defense on our way to meet with Rohullah to take care of some administration issues. While there, we met with a Afghan National Army General about these administrative topics. While speaking with him, the General brought up to us how proud he was of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team and he wanted to wish success for me leading the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. When I asked Reshad how he found out, he said that they did not say anything and that there are no secrets in Afghanistan.

The meeting with Rohullah was quick and full of energy and excitement. I told Rohullah what our answer was and we got straight down to business. I told Rohullah what my plan was to train the team, bringing them outside of Afghanistan, and he explained all of the roadblocks, primarily the issues concerning nepotism and pockets with holes in them. The nepotism issue I definitely think we can work but the hole in the pockets is difficult as it cuts out potential funding opportunities from the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Olympic Committee.

Rohullah promised me that he will get me a letter saying that Afghanistan Water Polo is official and I am going to be the coach, so I have source documents to show people about the validity of our program, if needed.

With Rohullah, Reshad, and Abdul Kholic very excited, we departed from Rohullah's office and went back to the 201st Commando Kandak. On the drive back, all that was in my mind about how there is so much planning and work to do. First on my list, is to set up a meeting with the selected athletes for the national team, to include the alternates.

National Swim Competition and Dirty Pools

One day after the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts, I went back up to the pool to gather all of the suits and goggles from the supply room. Rohullah Marouf, the Swim Chair at the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee told me that there would be a national swim competition in a few days and he wanted the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team to be there and if I could contact all of the athletes who tried out for the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team. As I walked up the long and steep hill and past the destroyed buildings, I noticed a lot of Afghan soldiers on the pool deck, enjoying themselves just like people would on a pool deck anywhere in the rest of the world. Soldiers were listing to music, sitting in chairs or on the ground, and jumping in the pool. There was lots of laughter and conversation that could be heard from afar.

Upon my arrival, after about 24 hours from my last visit to the pool, I saw a dirty pool. Not just a dirty pool, a dark pool where you could not see the bottom. It was not windy and there were no dust storms. The pool was a mixture between brown and black and I could not understand how people could be swimming, bathing, drinking, or washing clothes in that water. I ran down the hill, went to my room and got my camera, and then ran back all the way up the hill to take a photo. I took a picture because I knew that I could not effectively describe how the pool would look.

The national swim competition was at a pool near the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee office and is next door to Rohullah's office. The Commando's I mentor insisted that they drive me there and provide security for me. After many discussions with the S-1 and S-3 officers about the security that I did not need, they still insisted that I have it. They said that I was now a very important person for Afghanistan and that anytime I was to leave the base, I must have an armed escort. I laughed at the idea and explained, through Reshad's translation, that it is not up to me or anyone else when or where I die, I have been there many times before without an escort, and that I am not remotely important enough to have a driver and an armed escort. The idea was absurd.

On our way to the event, we dropped Reshad off by his house. He was thankful because it saved him a lot of time and the cost of sharing a taxi with many different people. Before we stopped, Reshad ensured that the Commandos (Yes, I was stuck with the escort) were aware of where the pool was and that if they got lost, I could only help them to a point. My driving time and known routes in Kabul was somewhat limited, my Dari skills and the Commandos' English speaking skills were incompatible, and I did not want to drive around the city, armed escort or not, and end up somewhere where I was in potential danger (My perception for danger has a high tolerance. Most situations are not dangerous for me). Even though the driver and I ended up disagreeing on directions once we were on the road again, we got there without getting lost and with no problems.

The swim competition was a lot of fun to watch. It was very reminiscent of the Pol-e-Charki Base swim competition and of the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts. Everyone was swimming their hearts out. There were athletes from many different areas of the country. Most of the athletes were novice swimmers, with the exception of the members of the national swim team, who were all there.

The event was very serious in nature, as all other organized sports events I have encountered here. The athletes on the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team wanted to wear their water polo caps to the swim meet to show that they were professional athletes and representing their team (Even though I told them repeatedly that the water polo caps are not designed for swim competition). There were banners covering the fences, VIP seating area, podium complete with microphone and speakers, and seating areas for the general public. There was an opening ceremony, where Rohullah, someone else from the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, and some other prominent individual spoke; the reading of the Qur’an; and singers.

There were about 50 swimmers who competed in 7 events; 50, 100, and 200 freestyle; 100 butterfly; 100 backstroke; 100 breaststroke; and 100 individual medley (IM). Some of the events they had several heats and other events only had a few athletes. The 50 freestyle had six heats but there were only two swimmers in the 100 butterfly. The two athletes, who swam the 100 IM, swam the strokes well but would have been disqualified in a sanctioned international meet.

Rohullah Nikpai (In the suit, in center of photo), who just returned from the Olympic Games in Beijing, with a bronze medal in hand (First Afghan to ever win a medal in the history of Afghanistan), even arrived to speak at the event. Even though he was late to the opening ceremony and had to speak in the middle of the event, it did not matter. Everyone was in awe once he stepped on the pool deck and it became very quiet in a short amount of time. Even the competitors in the water stopped swimming their event because he walked on the pool deck. He was a soft spoken individual who has the look of pride and determination in his eyes. Everyone wanted to be near him, in hope that touching him or being within a few feet of him would create the osmosis process, where they can take his accomplishments and morph them into something great that the individual who touched him can become. He spoke to the large crowd for a few minutes. At the end of the speech, there were deafening cheers that could be heard all of the way back to Beijing. He shook many hands and took many pictures. About an hour after arriving, he finally was allowed to leave the pool deck and walk out to the street. I would have to imagine that it took him another 30 minutes to walk the 100 yards from the pool to his vehicle before he was able to leave as well.

A few minutes after his final departure, this swim competition finally resumed.

The 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team athletes did very well. They placed highly in all of the events, with the exception of the butterfly and individual medley. They even won a few of the events. It was nice to see that they were competitive but I hope in future years that the times in the "national championships" will be a little faster.

With Ramadan coming up and cooler weather around the corner, this will be the end of aquatic sports for the year. Hopefully next year will have more citizens of this country participating in sports that involve a pool.

Final Day of Water Polo in Afghanistan for 2008

Today was the final day of the first ever Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts and of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team's inaugural season. Even though the national team tryouts did not take place every day as planned, because of situations outside of our control, we were excited for the day. This week, I was running around trying to make sure everything was set, was enjoyed by all. I feel that this is a great thing for Afghanistan and know that all of the athletes feel the same way.

Whenever I saw the athletes throughout the week, their first question was how were they doing in the tryouts? Followed by, are they going to make the team? My response would always be that regardless if they make the team, they, their family, and their village should be proud of their accomplishment that they tried out for the team.

In addition to the last day of the tryouts, the last day of the season for the 201st Corps team, I am finishing teaching my first two college classes for Central Texas College, on Camp Blackhorse (A nearby US Army forward operating base), and I am finishing what will hopefully be my final master's degree class for Excelsior College, before I begin writing my thesis. I also had to work my job. For being the laziest person I know, I was quite busy this week.

The day started at 6:30, with going to meet with the S-1 staff at the 201st Commando Kandak. All of the staff was there early because of the flow of work. The S-1 Officer had many questions for me about this work and some new procedures that the 201st Corps wanted to implement. I assured him that he already had the processes in place and he just needed to show the 201st Corps G-1 what we were already doing and they will understand. He was still worried, so I told him that I would walk with him to the 201st Corps G-1 and speak with the G-1 Officer about it. Sure enough, the processes that the 201st Commando Kandak have had for five months now were the same processes that the 201st Corps G-1 wanted to implement.

With the S-1 Officer relieved that we were ahead of the power curve and the S-1 staff working hard on their tasks, I went to go get Ken Paprocki, a photojournalist from New York, by way of Nebraska. Ken was waiting for me at Camp Blackhorse. Ken and I came in contact through SPC Ocque. SPC Ocque was supposed to come and take photos of what we are doing and was never able to make it. She was very helpful by sending Ken our way. Ken was also with a reporter named Doug Grindle. Doug did not seem that interested in Afghans playing water polo or a national team tryout. He seems more of the type to follow US servicemembers around that are fighting the good fight. Since Ken and Doug were traveling together, Doug decided to bring his video camera to tag along. Maybe he will find something he wants to cover.

I first took Ken and Doug to meet the 201st Commando Kandak. I walked them around to the different companies and the headquarters staff, to speak with who they felt were interesting. The 201st Commando Kandak and its soldiers had been in plenty of battles against the Taliban and there were many good men who died or were wounded fighting against the enemy of Afghanistan. The Commandos were so interested in the attention and were eager to speak with Ken and Doug. Ken asked a lot of questions and took many photos.
The Commandos told Ken their stories and answered what he asked. After the first office that I brought Ken and Doug into, I realized that they would be in these offices for a long time, so I left Reshad with them to translate and went back to work for 30 minutes at a time, and would then return to introduce them to the new company or platoon.

I then took Ken to the Commando dining facility to get a feel of what the Afghan soldiers eat and the opportunity to meet more soldiers. So many Commandos came up to us that it was too much...we ended up leaving after about Ken spoke with Commandos for about 30 minutes.

After that I took Ken and Doug back to Camp Blackhorse. Knowing that Doug did not have an interest in the water polo story, I just told Ken that the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo team would be having lunch at the Camp Blackhorse dining facility at 1230. Since I was right there, I stopped by the dining facility (DFAC) to ensure that the DFAC manager remembered that we would be there today at 1230 and that there was a reserved table for us. He said we were all set, which made me quite happy.

But first I had to go back to the S-1 office to see on the status of tasks being accomplished. The S-1 Officer and I spent about 90 minutes together talking about some more S-1 work. Pay day was coming up and we had to make sure that there were no discrepancies in the pay documents.

Our rally point for the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team luncheon was at the 201st Corps' building. That is where all of the soldiers were going to meet me as the Afghan soldiers cannot go onto Camp Blackhorse, or any US base without an escort. Two weeks prior, I spoke with the base commander at Camp Blackhorse about my idea to bring the soldiers to the DFAC aboard the base to celebrate the end to a wonderful season. Once I arrived, at 12:00, the team was ready to go to Camp Blackhorse. All of the athletes knew that they were not allowed to bring anyone to this luncheon that was not on the team. However, there were 15 people there, which were not on the team, that were expecting to go. Additionally, I was told that the 201st Corps Commander plus his staff were going to come. I originally invited the 201st Corps Commander to the luncheon, since this was his team. When he was signing the participation certificates that I printed up (Steve Scott provided the template, of course) for the athletes, I discussed with him about attending the luncheon and that he could bring himself. He asked if he could bring some other people and I said no. I asked the Camp Blackhorse Commander if I could bring 30 on the base for chow, not 50.

After we got the group down to the appropriate size, we piled into vehicles and drove over to the parking lot across the street from Camp Blackhorse. During our drive there, some of the soldiers that were told they could not come tried to jump in the vehicles with us. They were told that if they came with us, that they would have to walk back without lunch. Not believing what I was telling them, they came anyways.

Once we arrived in the Camp Blackhorse parking lot, I had the athletes assemble in a "school circle" and listen to what the plan was and key things to remember, since none of them ever had a meal at an American military dining facility before: Everyone had to have their ID card when they walk in the gate, in a single file line, no weapons, that they would be searched by the US soldiers at the gate, remain in the single file line all the way to the DFAC, sign in on the roster, wash hands, not eat anything with a picture of a pig on the label, do not use their hands to get any of the food at all (Use tongs), sit at the table on the back wall, and have fun. Everyone said they understood and we were ready. We were just waiting on the 201st Corps Commander.

Once the 201st Corps Commander arrived, I explained everything to him quickly and he said he understood. He also tried asking if the soldiers he brought along could come as well. I told him that as much as I wish that they could, that we only have a table that seats 30 and the Camp Blackhorse Commander only allowed me to bring 30. He tried to convince me again but I politely told the general no.

Since we were all there, and it was now 12:25, I told everyone to get in a line, minus the Corps Commander, and to have their ID cards out. Some extra soldiers, and a few of the 201st Corps Commander's invitees, tried jumping in the line. I quickly got them out, and explained again that they could not come. I also told the athletes on the team if these extra soldiers did not get out of the line now, none of us would get to eat lunch here. Like I told them before and since they did not take me seriously, they had to walk back to their units, without lunch. As the Afghan National Army dining facilities were already closed, I am sure they were hungry until dinner.

Once the MP's at the gate gave us the go ahead, we started walking in. I went in first, and then the Corps Commander and the athletes were all searched and let in. Once the group was finished, we all walked towards to DFAC in a line. All of a sudden, the group was trying to walk everywhere, some were with me, some were trying to walk to the little trinket and DVD shops, and the rest were talking to some of their units' mentors. I abruptly stopped, had Ahmad Shah and Mohommad Osman (Both athletes on the team) tell everyone to get back in line, and told them to stay with the plan. We could not risk being kicked off the base.

As we arrived to the DFAC, everyone started in the door and followed the directions that I gave them. They all signed in, washed their hands, used tongs at the self service area, and went through the line, like they had done it 100 times before...Except that some of them forgot that they could not eat anything with a pig face on the label. Even the servers on the line even tried telling them, since some of the servers barely spoke any English, and neither did most of the 30 Afghans there, it was not fully communicated that the item contained pork and they should not eat it. As I saw this take place, I tried stopping it when it took place or when they tried coming to the table.

As the soldiers sat down at the table, it was actually very quiet. Everyone was eating and enjoying their food. Some of the US mentors came over and congratulated the team and shook their hands for their accomplishments. The athletes became very excited by this because they were proud of themselves and are rarely congratulated for anything that they do. Ken Paprocki was there and got to ask the athletes a lot of questions about their season, their story, and about their families. It was a very successful luncheon and I was happy to see all of the smiles and excitement of the athletes.

As we completed our discussions and eating, I told the athletes what they needed to do on the way out: Drop off the trays, walk outside, get in a single file line, and then walk out of the gate. This time, the process went a lot more smoothly.

I then brought Ken to spend some time with the linguists that we work with to hear about their lives. I left him there to go back to S-1 to do some work. After working at the S-1 office I went back to go get him. Ken was just hanging out there, making friends, and having an enjoyable time.

It was now time to go to the pool as Mohammad Tahir, the 201st Corps Sports Officer, coordinated an awards ceremony. I created certificates and had the 201st Corps Commander sign them. Mohammad Tahir also had the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander sign certificates that he made as well. Come to find out, this was a big deal for the athletes on the team. All the athletes made sure that they were there on time. The 201st Corps Commander was there, along with the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander, Ministry of Defense Sports Officer, a general from the Ministry of Defense, and an Afghan television crew. As each athlete received their certificates, you could feel all of the smiles. There was not an unhappy person there.

I thought my reward for this hard work was watching these athletes’ progression through a completely foreign sport. But the athletes had a surprise for me. In the middle of the ceremony, the athletes presented me with a ceremonial vest and hat, a vest for my son (A custom if one were to have a son), and two hearts with flowers attached to them. The only time I have ever seen these before is at an Afghan National Army, Change of Command Ceremony. I am told this is one of the highest honors and for days after the ceremony, Afghans from all over the base were asking me about my gifts. To further explain the gifts that were presented to me, watch this video.

After the ceremony, the athletes wanted to do an exhibition for all of the visitors. The athletes began their stretching and dryland exercises, completed a warm up of swimming and passing, and then I divided up the group into two teams and then they started a game. It was the first time that there were visitors watching the athletes play in game type situation, so the athletes were definitely giving it their all. We played five minute running quarters and the athletes would frequently sub out as they were quickly tiring.

After the exhibition game, I had to leave the pool for a while to go back to the S-1 to check on a project that they were working on and then go to the front gate to ensure that all the civilians were let in for the national team tryouts. I left Ken at the pool and I think he was having fun too. Leilani always says that I can make friends everywhere, including the bathroom. I think that Ken can make friends 100 times faster than I can, and in more austere locations. I think that he had an enjoyable day.

The final day of tryouts went very well. The athletes from the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team were a little worn out from the full practice/game that they did before the tryouts themselves. The athletes had a good time and I made sure that after we finished our time in the pool, that I told everyone who participated in the tryouts that I was proud of them, their families should be proud of them, they should be proud of themselves, and what they were doing was the first step of something great for their country. I also told them that I would be in contact in the next 10 days with those who made the team. Those who would not make the team I encouraged to try out again next time and that it was not shameful if they did not make the team.

They all did not want to leave the pool but I told them that I had to go. It was late, almost dark, and I had to go back to work. I hope that I will be able to select and meet our team soon. They are such a great group of people who want to do something to make their country better. Even though they do not have the size, speed, or strength to take on the world's best water polo teams, they do have the heart needed to get the program to a high level. We will see where the future will lead us. After all, just a few months ago, water polo was unheard of in Afghanistan, and soon, Afghanistan will have its own national team.

201st Corps on a Mission and Tryouts Resume

The pool was muddy from yesterday's "storm". The soldier who cares for the pool took it upon himself to drain the pool, brush it down, and started refilling it. He also went above and beyond and got a water truck to drain a water tower and dump the water into the pool so it would be filled in time. I do not know if this was the soldier’s own initiative or if the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander directed him to, as a realization of what this future, of a Afghanistan National Water Polo Team, will do for Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Army, 201st Corps, to include most of the 201st Commando Kandak, were still on a mission today. There were many reports in different areas around the country, to include where the 201st Corps deployed to, of Taliban attacking targets and the Afghan National Army engaging the Taliban after they exposed themselves. The soldiers and commandos of the 201st Corps were not due to participate in the national team tryouts today but their units started to arrive about an hour before tryouts started. They even brought all of the “civilians”, who were participating in the tryouts onto the base as they drove into the front gate. It was a great gesture to their fellow countrymen, and maybe even future teammates.

I was sure that all of the civilians have been wondering why the tryouts have not continued. A few of the “civilians” left to go home, thinking that there were no more tryouts. The soldiers explained that they were all gone on missions and that the “civilians” that were trying out did not miss anything. Everyone was smiles today as they jumped in the pool. It was a great day for the participants and for me, who also had a smile.

Combat Missions and Mud Storms

The Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts definitely did not go as planned today. The 201st Corps of the Afghan National Army, which resides on the Pol-e-Charki Base, was deployed on a mission to fight the Taliban (Which are called the “enemy of Afghanistan” by all Afghans I encounter). It was a hectic day, trying to get the 201st Commando Kandak (Batallion), that I mentor, out the door for the mission.

With no Afghan soldiers or commandos attending today’s tryouts, it will be difficult to remain objective and will seem unfair to the “civilians” trying out. What if a civilian does not make the team but one of the soldiers do make the team? The “civilian” will complain that the tryouts are unfair and that the soldier was not even there to tryout. We will just have to see how the rest of the week works out. After yesterday's incident, who knows how this will come together.

What may be perceived as lucky for someone, it was unlucky for us with the tryouts. The Pol-e-Charki Base Commander, will not let any of the civilians on the base today because of security concerns. At first it was implied to me that he just did not want to go through the security screenings like yesterday but when I went with Reshad to speak with him, he told us that he was not allowing any visitors to the base because of security reasons. That sounds fair to me, he has to protect all personnel on the base. The Base Commander also offered us to stay and have tea. Because of my track record in the past with him (Of not staying to drink tea. Maybe that has been the reason why he has been not letting civilians onto the base), I quickly thanked him for the offer and we sat down with him and drank tea.

Even if there were no missions for the Afghan National Army, the potential of the other athletes feeling that it is unfair that the soldiers did not tryout and their expectations of having better placement on the team, and that the Base Commander did not let the civilians on the base, the tryouts would not have even commenced. At about 2:30 PM, a wicked dust storm came out of nowhere. It was no ordinary dust storm, I would venture to call it a mud storm. It started with a lot of wind and the clouds started moving in. Then it started to hail heavily, with pieces of hailstones ranging in size from small specs to pieces the size of a child’s hand clenched in a fist. As the hail was pelting down, I was getting stung on all areas of my body by these hailstones. The hail soon turned to rain. A few seconds after, dust started flying everywhere. This dust mingled with the rain and mud, the size of raindrops, started falling everywhere, to include all over my body as I was walking, and now running, from the Commando Kandak S-1 to the Special Forces compound where I lived. The distance of these two points is only about 300-400 yards. That is how quickly the storm went from nothing to mud. My arms and head had some red marks afterwards from the hail, I was filthy from the mud rain, and in about five minutes time, it started to flood all over the base. Huge puddles filled level areas, and the river bed that runs dry through the base this time of year was halfway filled with rushing water. It was at least seven or eight feet deep in such a short amount of time. It has been raining all evening and it does not look like it will let up soon.

I hope that any and all of these issues do not happen again this week. Since Ramadan starts next week, and pools are not open from that time until next summer, it will not be good if we cannot complete the national team tryouts. Even though we are looking for those who are fast and strong, we are especially looking for those who will be great teammates, have the desire to do something great for their country, and those we feel will be able to pick up the fundamentals of the sport with ease and be able to continue building themselves as individuals and as a team.

We will see where tomorrow leads us.

201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team

It is such an honor to be coaching these athletes. The first few practices drew huge crowds and there were dozens who were wanting to join the team as well. The "20 best athletes" were chosen by the 201st Corps' Sports Officer Mohammad Tahir with very careful selection with strict requirements.

The athletes are very committed. I have come to the realization of why through my discussions with the athletes individually and as a group: All of the athletes, along with most Afghans I meet, are very serious about sports; and that someone is taking an interest in them. In the United States, you sometimes have trouble getting everyone to show up for practice, they have a birthday party to go to or they have to go get their nails done. Here, even the hopefuls were out there everyday, knowing they wouldn’t even get to go in the pool. Unless, of course, they were out on a mission. That’s why we needed more athletes. I told Mohammad Tahir that we could use ten more. He said, ‘They’re not good for you." Athletes who show up everyday to watch a practice for weeks are good for me.

Eventually the original twenty were expanded to thirty guys, but this meant more men in the water, some who were struggling swimmers. Even though I was careful for what I wished for, I still had my hands full and needed help. Steve Scott, a Lieutenant Commander in our beloved Navy and the mentor for the base commander, volunteered to coach. Adding Steve allowed us to work in two groups. Steve took the novice swimmers and developed their strokes, while the advanced group worked on their game. Each of our groups made great strides.

Constructing goals proved to be one of the tougher challenges. I downloaded plans for the goals, and the eager engineering department went to work, but having only seen football (soccer) goals, they came back with small, heavy frames constructed of steel. The goals had to be placed on the deck

The view from the pool deck was very different from pool decks in the US. I have never had an armed guard at the pool before and the scene from the pool can be rivaled by few pools. Coaching this team is unlike anything I have ever encountered.

Who knows where this will take us...





The athletes of the 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team line up for warm up.

Water Polo in Afghanistan

I currently work with the United States Army as an administrative mentor for the 201st Commando Battalion, Afghan National Army. Here since January 2008 I’ve enjoyed my job and the soldiers that I support. The Special Operations units, both American and Afghan, are instrumental in fighting the war on terrorism and are influential in helping Afghanistan become a stable country and one that can sustain itself. These units have taken casualties in the past and unfortunately, because of their missions, there is a high probability that they will take more in the future. I live and work on an Afghan National Army base named Pol-e-Charki. It is about 15 miles east of the capital, Kabul. Near our compound, there is an unfilled swimming pool. Scouting it numerous times I realized that there is a great opportunity to help people and do something I love at the same time: Coaching. I have been in several coaching situations in my career but none have prepared me for my current coaching opportunity.

As a quick background of seldom mentioned information about Afghanistan, there are an estimated 33 million citizens. These people mostly live in poverty. With the exception of highly developed parts of cities, most of the Afghan population lives in mud-brick buildings. Many people beg for food, water, or anything that you are willing to give them. Shoes are a luxury in some areas and many of the people who do have shoes, do not even have shoes that fit. Prior to the US and coalition forces helping the people of Afghanistan, the Taliban was in control of the country. While the Taliban was in control, most people were not allowed to attend schools, especially women. Less than 30% of all the people in Afghanistan are literate and only 12% of women can read or write. The Taliban did not allow music, athletics, telephones, cell phones, televisions, computers, or internet. Outside of major cities, very few people have access to electricity.

Afghanistan has a few major sports. Until recently and even at present, most of these sports are recreational only and do not have developed structure. These sports include running, football (soccer), volleyball, and cricket. Until recently, none of these sports are played at the local, regional, or national level. People run for pleasure only, very few do it for exercise. The only time people run in competition, is between friends. Volleyball seems to be the most played sport for Afghans and from observing them play, I would have to say it is their best sport. I cannot find the origins of why the Afghan’s love that game or why they are so good at it. I believe Afghanistan would have the best chance, out of all team sports, of making an Olympic bid with volleyball. Cricket is the least played, out of the team sports, which I have seen played in Afghanistan. Some Afghan’s obsession with cricket would be from British control of Afghanistan from the 1800s until 1919. Generations must have fully enjoyed the sport and taught it to their children. There is not much else that is known about it.

Football (Soccer) is the most widely known sport and as equally popular as volleyball. Most competitions are between people within a village and rarely between two villages. In my time here, I have seen many different versions of the soccer ball to include volleyballs, a plant that looked like a gourd, round watermelons, patched rubber, and what looked like bubble wrap taped with duct tape are some of the many examples. Football goals are as creative as the balls they shoot them in, clothes marking the ground, shells from mortar rounds, weapons, sheep or goats, rocks, trees, or rickshaws. My first experience of coaching in Afghanistan was in the sport of soccer. I was working with other Americans, a French soldier, and Afghans with trying to create a football league. We each took soldiers out of the units that worked with and developed teams. We were practicing a few times a week to hone their skills and teach them the international rules. Teaching basic fundamentals, like throw-ins, was an experience in itself. One day, in February, the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander decided to put barbed wire around the football field. This did not stop us from playing. However, once the Pol-e-Charki Base Commander, started sending his military police officers, with drawn weapons, to tell everyone that they could not use the field until the field was made to be perfect, we had to stop playing. The field has not been opened since that day.

Swimming is another pastime of Afghans. There are a few rivers, lakes, and reservoirs within the country. This is where the majority of swimming is performed. But there version of swimming differs as it is completely recreational. Proper stroke technique or the teaching of it is completely nonexistent. Based on a survey conducted in June of 2008, of 300 people, there is an estimated sixteen pools in the country, all located in the major cities. It is also estimated that less than 20% of the population knows how to swim (Paddling or treading water without drowning) and less than 2% of women know how to swim. Just like in athletics, women are not allowed to swim in public areas. The only opportunity that women learn how to swim is if they learned to swim before they were six years old, or if their family is rich and has their own pool.

Many of the Afghan soldiers are anxiously waiting for the pool to open as well. As it is hot, all of the buildings here have no air conditioning, and there are very few trees to find shade in, what is a better way to beat the heat than to jump into a pool? There are other uses for this pool that I have seen already. The Afghan National Army uses it as a reservoir as the water tower on the west side of the base is inoperable. I have also seen soldiers use the pool to do their laundry when the water is high enough for the soldiers to reach.

It is unknown when the pool was actually built. The buildings around the pool were destroyed during heavy fighting in different wars. The pool was rehabilitated a year ago but the pool was not open very long last summer. There is no pump or recirculation of water. No heating element, covers, lane lines, seating, or anything else you expect in a pool area. It is just a 25 yard pool with a bed of dirt lying on the bottom.

Once the pool does open, I still do not plan to jump in. There is no chlorine, bromine, or any other pool chemicals to keep the water safe. To add to the sanitation issue of the water, in Pol-e-Charki, there is no potable water. According to Safewateronline.com, the water and sanitation infrastructures in Afghanistan are severely damaged and non-operational. However, this information only includes where there are water and sanitation infrastructures in place. The United Nations specifies that almost all of these water facilities are only within major cities. The CIA World Factbook states that Afghanistan has “inadequate supplies of potable water” and the website lists almost every waterborne disease, known to man, that are in this unhealthy water. According to figures from the United Nations Children’s Fund, nineteen percent of those living in the cities, and only eleven percent of those living in the countryside have access to safe drinking water.

Another issue about this facility is the access to pool time when it opens. The pool is not a priority for the base commander. I have even offered my services to teach the Afghan soldiers how to swim in exchange for a few hours of pool time a week. The base commander’s response was that the pool is for soldiers to have fun and it should not be used to make soldiers work hard. In addition to this negative response, I recently located a company that was willing to ship free pool chemicals so we can keep the pool sanitary. Again, my request was turned down because if they need water for the base they may need to get it from the pool and it cannot be chlorinated.

Even with all of these setbacks, I am still as excited about teaching these Afghans about water polo as they are to learn. Soldiers that want to learn how to play “swimming football”, are so excited that they go to the pool everyday and see whether it is filled or not. These soldiers are amazing, to say the least. They have endured hardships that most Americans and the western world cannot fathom. They have had their homes destroyed, family members killed, have had to live in exile in other countries, little or no education (Most soldiers only have a 3rd grade education and most of their wives have had none), and they only get to see their families for a few weeks a year and some do not have direct access to contact them as telephones are a relatively new utility here, but they still find ways to smile, laugh, enjoy camaraderie with their friends, and be able to get excited about new things.

Their swimming apparel will be their army physical training shorts. No swim suits for these guys. They would be too embarrassed to wear them not because they fear jeering from their friends but because Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a very conservative culture. Men do not walk around with their shirts off and women are required to be covered (Whether completely covered with no skin showing or everything but their face being covered). Swim suits are not needed but I do require some other equipment that is vital to the sport of water polo. These items would include balls, caps, and water polo goals. Bahram Hojreh, from Los Alamitos Water Polo, has done an outstanding job so far by donating caps, balls, a ball bag, air pump, a coach’s whistle, and instructions on how to build goals. I cannot wait until these items arrive in the mail. Now I just need to find the wood and metal to build these goals.

Through extensive research, through the internet, United States military, and through citizens of Afghanistan, there are no known swim teams and definitely no known water polo teams. This just might be the water polo polo team in Afghanistan and maybe even the first aquatics team. But some of these soldiers, who will come out to play water polo when the pool opens, may not be playing here in a year. Some will finish their duty in the army, some will be moved to another base, and some will be killed in the line of duty. We will see how the first water polo team in Afghanistan fares in its inaugural season.

A reminder that Afghanistan is in the middle of a war. The remnants of this building are down the hill from where the Camp Pol-E-Charki pool is.

Staff Sergeant Arif, a Commando in the Afghan National Army, stands next to the Camp Pol-e-Charki pool, where he plans on learning to swim and play water polo in.

A view from the pool deck of the Camp Pol-e-Charki pool. The pool offers a commanding view of the surrounding area for as far as the eye can see.

201st Corps Swim Competition

I just witnessed something amazing. I went to a swim competition at the Afghan National Army (ANA) base at Pol-e-Charki, Afghanistan. There is a 25 yard pool that is approximately 10 yards wide. There were hundreds of soldiers at the pool for an intramural competition. The cheering was loud, the athletes, who were soldiers, were giving their all, and there was nothing but smiles. I have never seen so many people excited about a swim meet before. I was also so impressed about how well the athletes swam, considering that most of the soldiers never swam in a pool before today.