Shorabak Garrison Meeting

I asked Hakim to translate again as I wanted to make sure that Colonel Safi and I were able to communicate. Hakim was very excited to help as he felt like he was contributing to something very exciting.

When Colonel Safi first invited me into his office, he looked very busy. He had about 20 Afghan National Army officers in his office and he was speaking on two cell phones. Hakim and I sat in some very comfortable chairs and waited for our turn. Colonel Safi quickly completed his phone calls and introduced himself, ignoring all of the patiently waiting officers. He then started telling Hakim a story about how his friend was telling him about a water polo program in Pol-e-Charki and how much they accomplished last year.

Needless to say, I did not need to say much to convince Colonel Safi to get involved in the water polo program and to get the pool fixed. Through Hakim, Colonel Safi promised that he would have a team ready and the pool fixed in one week. He then asked if I had any questions. I asked him if he had any questions about my vision for the program or what my plans were. His response was that he knew enough about me and my plans and did not need any other information.

Colonel Safi was very keen on the idea of starting an organized sports program aboard Shorabak Garrison. What better way to accomplish this than to start a swim and water polo team? He said he would take care of the pool issue.

I am going to wait to express my excitement about this meeting until after the Shorabak Swim and Water Polo Team starts practicing. I do not want to get my hopes up again like I have in the past few weeks, just to get let down.

I look forward to the next meeting with him about introducing water polo to Helmand Province Afghanistan.

Final Planning Meeting for the 205th Corps Swim and Water Polo Team

It is finally official. We will begin the 205th Corps Swim and Water Polo Team in one week. I just walked out of a meeting with Captain Zebullah and he assured me that we would start the team then. They are going to get the broken pipe at the pool fixed so the pool can be filled with water and are going to select a team of 20 soldiers for me to coach. It was decided that the Afghan National Army soldiers would be democratically selected for the team from each of the units in the 205th Corps and on the Shorabak Garrison. I am glad that they are choosing the athletes this way and just not selecting athletes based off of family ties, ethnic background, or rank.

I eagerly wait to start the team next week. I already have swim and water polo gear here. I have suits, goggles, balls, water polo caps, and water polo balls. All I need now are athletes to coach and water in the pool. Here is the start of a new adventure!

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.

A Pool at Shorabak?

About two weeks ago, I was informed by Lieutenant Joshua Pogue, a co-worker of mine at 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan who works at Shorabak, that there is a pool there. Shorabak is an Afghan National Army (ANA) base a few minutes away from Camp Leatherneck. Josh called me because he knew about the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team, 201st Corps Swim and Water Polo Team, and my work at the 201st Commando Kandak. He knew I would be immediately interested in hearing this news. Since then, I have asked Josh many times about the pool: Where it was, how to get there, how the pool was built, what it was used for in the past, future plans for the pool, and which ANA soldiers had more information about the pool.

I was finally able to escape from work and go to Shorabak. I received a quick tour of Shorabak from Josh. He took me to go eat at a linguist dining facility at FOB Tombstone, an adjacent base operated by the UK. The food was very reminiscent of my dining experiences in Pol-e-Charki at the linguist dining facility, Commando dining facility, and the ANA dining facility; and at the Commando field mess in Jalalabad. A lot of rice, a little meat, and many vegetables and fruit. We took our meals to one of the linguists’ tents and ate there. We sat on the floor and ate our feast, spoke about a myriad of topics to include American politics, Afghan politics, the Marine Corps, and the soap opera that was playing on the television that was in Farsi. It was a very enjoyable time and our hosts were just happy for us to be there.

After lunch, Josh showed me the pool. It was right across the street from the building he works in. The pool stands above ground and on a man-made hill. There is a staircase leading up to it with nice tiling and barbed wire surrounding the entire structure. The pool is about the size of a large backyard pool or your standard hotel pool. It is about 15 yards long and 10 yards wide. There was some trash inside the pool: plastic bottles, soda cans, wrappers, and some miscellaneous scraps. There was also some dirt and gravel inside. I also found a rubber tube that looked like it was possibly used for putting water into the pool.

Josh then told me that Colonel Sarwa, the S-3 officer for 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, Afghan National Army built the pool by hand last year. By the looks of the pool and the limited resources in the area, he did a magnificent job building the pool. I was hoping to meet the colonel but he was away with his brigade fighting the war. From what Josh was told, the pool is the best place to be during the hot months for all of the ANA soldiers in Helmand Province. As he was telling me this, I was watching the 30 or so ANA soldiers sitting on the edge of the pool…with no water in it.

Josh then took me to meet Captain Zebullah. Since Colonel Sarwa was gone, Captain Zebullah who is the assistant S-3 officer for the brigade would be the most suitable person to help with my goal of starting a swimming and water polo team at this pool. Captain Zebullah was gone at the moment and one of his soldiers told us that he would be back soon. Since I was gone from work for a while already and Josh also had to go back to work, we decided that I would come back and the beginning of the week to speak with Captain Zebullah.

I eagerly await to meet and discuss the idea of a swim and water polo team at Shorabak. I think it will be a great opportunity for the ANA soldiers, for the people in the area, build the important bridges between US and Afghan military, and spread these sports into more areas and people in Afghanistan. Another crazy idea, I know. We will see where this takes us.

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?

Afghanistan National Water Polo Becomes Official

Since the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team tryouts have ended, I have only heard from Rohullah, the Swim Chair at the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee once. This was at the national swim competition a few days ago. Reshad and I were trying to get a hold of him but he was not answering his phone or email. Reshad finally got a hold of him last night and when he came to work today, he told me, in front of the S-1 Officer, that we would be meeting with Rohullah.

Since I knew that the S-1 Officer would insist on the armed escort, I thought that we could kill two birds with one stone. The S-1 Officer and I were talking about taking a trip to Darul Aman to recruit graduating soldiers, from the Afghan National Army boot camp, to fill some shortfalls in the 201st Commando Kandak. It was a perfect opportunity to go to Darul Aman today.

Abdul Kholic, the S-1 Officer, agreed that today would be a great day to go as the Commando Kandak was already paid and all of the pay reports, that show that every Commando was paid, were already submitted. This saved me from having to sneak out without an armed escort and leaving Abdul Kholic feeling like I did not want to listen to a very respected man, full of wisdom, about how a "well known and important American" needs to remain protected and safe.

Abdul Kholic quickly coordinated a three vehicle convoy, two pickup trucks with mounted weapons and a 7-ton truck to carry all of the soldiers we were planning on bringing back, and about ten Commandos as drivers and to man the crew served weapons and protect the convoy.

Knowing how the Commandos drive, how much traffic there is, and that most of the people on the road are first time drivers, I opted to ride with Abdul Kholic. I have been a passenger in his vehicle on many trips before and he is a very defensive and proactive driver. I think that he would do quite well driving in California, the Republic of Korea, or other places around the world that have unpredictable drivers.

The drive to Rohullah's office was quick and uneventful as there was not a lot of traffic. We arrived early at Rohullah's office, but he was not there yet. His assistant said that he was meeting with the President of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee about some swim matters. His assistant quickly ushered Abdul Kholic, Reshad, and I into Rohullah's office and had tea and some pastries made for us. He also had someone bring tea and pastries out for all of the Commandos who were waiting by the vehicles. Hospitality is so wonderful in Afghanistan!

When Rohullah arrived, he quickly came into the office and was very excited to meet with us. After the introduction of Abdul Kholic and Rohullah and listening to the two of them speak for a while, we all started speaking about current events, the upcoming presidential election in the United States, the weather, and the success of the national swim competition. Rohullah was very optimistic about the results of the swim competition, which was the first ever swim meet in Afghanistan, especially when "the expert", believe me, I am no expert, agreed that it was a well run competition with great results. I think my encouragement about how well the swim meet went made his day.

Rohullah quickly cut to the chase and said that he appreciated my help with teaching aquatics sports to the people of his country and for helping him strengthen aquatics in Afghanistan. He reviewed the strategic plan of a proposed national program over the past week and read the list of athletes that were recommended for the national team. He was even approving of my recommendations for coaches for the national team. He profusely thanked me for my hard work and dedication and hoped that this would be the beginnings of something great for Afghanistan.

Rohullah started telling me that hopefully they will be able to continue the program in the future because things are very tough as he receives no money from the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee for the national swim program. He said "God willing" they will be able to do something in the future with the team. This was a little disappointing as it seemed that Rohullah was not focused on taking on this program. Seeing my disappointment, Reshad and Abdul Kholic started telling him how great a national water polo program, with Afghans from Afghanistan, would be for the country. That Afghanistan needed this.

After about ten minutes of me not being able to get a word in edgewise because of the heated discussion between Rohullah, Reshad, and Abdul Kholic, about the future of the potential Afghanistan National Water Polo Team, Rohullah stopped the discussion and asked Reshad a question for me. The question was simple, "What were my thoughts?" My response was simple, to tell the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee to create a national water polo program, based off of the plan we worked so hard to make. Upon hearing my response, he asked Reshad "Will I help them?" I answered "I wanted to continue to support them in the development of a national water polo program."

During Rohullah's recent meeting with the President of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, Rohullah was discussing the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee's thought process on their budgeting or lack thereof and the lack of support to the national swim program. The president, not wanting to be questioned about his direction, started asking Rohullah about the progression of water polo. By the end of their meeting, Rohullah did not get any swim questions answered but came back with the approval to officially start a national water polo program. Rohullah knowing this, did not share his excitement about this when we first started talking today, but it still made me happy.

Rohullah also wanted to know if I would lead the program. I was touched by the notion that he would think of me that way. I told him that I would help them in developing the program and that I did not have the background to lead a national program. I explained that I was just a high school varsity water polo coach, a club swim coach, and previously ran some club water polo teams that were successful. I would help them find some quality coaches and help them in the development from the plan we created. I was also concerned about my availability between my job and how much longer I would actually be in Afghanistan. I did not want to commit to something that I could not follow through on. I did not want to be like the "old story" that I was just another westerner or American who promised something and did not follow through. I did not have any of the skills needed to start, develop, and fundraise for a national sports program and its national team, other than interest and my recent focus of starting the team at Pol-e-Charki and organizing the national team tryouts. I told him that I would speak with Leilani and we would pray and discuss about it. I would give him an answer in a few days.

Since we had to get to Darul Aman, we had to finish our meeting. Rohullah was hoping for us to stay longer and for an answer, but I told him it will come soon.

Our trip to Darul Aman was very interesting. Between us almost getting in 50 accidents and Abdul Kholic's sole focus on why I would not coach the team, it was a pretty stressful ride. It was amazing to see how a big 7-ton truck can maneuver through traffic. We survived the ride there but Abdul Kholic was not done asking why I was not willing to help. I tried ten different ways to explain it to him that I did not say no, I just needed to think about it, discuss it with Leilani, and look at the feasibility of it. Could this be something that could really be put together? If I were to take this program on, the team could not train two-three months out of the year. We would have to get them out of Afghanistan and into a first world country to train the team. I tried explaining this Abdul Kholic, through Reshad, that there was a lot to think about. Abdul Kholic was still not happy and felt that I did not care about Afghanistan.

Towards the entrance of the base at Darul Aman, there was a palace from a former king of Afghanistan. Even though it was almost completely destroyed, you could see the beauty and could imagine how it once looked. I tried asking Abdul Kholic about it, but he was frustrated with me. Reshad tried giving me a little history about the palace.

The graduation ceremony at Darul Aman was very quaint. It was on a dirt track, the graduating platoons did a pass in review, there were two band members who were just learning how to play their instruments, and it took seven minutes. Other than Reshad, the Commandos, and I, there were no other spectators. It was very different from a boot camp graduation ceremony in the United States, where the bleachers would be full of families and friends, a big military band participating, a pass in review where everyone is in step, a honor guard, a long speech from the commander and maybe a guest speaker, all of which could take between thirty minutes and an hour.

After the ceremony, Abdul Kholic went to the drill instructors and told them which soldiers he wanted. During the ceremony, he watched at how the soldiers marched and stood in formation. He also looked at how healthy and strong they looked. The drill instructors called the soldiers out of formation after Abdul Kholic would point them out. The soldiers then went to get their bags and jumped on the truck. It was a very quick process and the soldiers were not told where they were going or anything. It was an interesting evolution to watch and I wondered how the Afghan National Army would account for these individuals or what would happen when these soldiers did not show up at their new commands. I guess we will see how this works.

Even though Abdul Kholic was satisfied that we accomplished a big mission that he and I have been working for a long time, he was still mad at me and did not say much on the way back to Pol-e-Charki. We were still defying death and accidents by the miracle of us fitting in spaces half the size of the vehicles. With no regard for the newly recruited soldiers who were stuffed in the back of the 7-ton truck like sardines, they somehow made it back to Pol-e-Charki with no incident too.

The rest of the day was very quiet. Not much was said in the office. Hopefully, I will be able to talk about this with Leilani soon.

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.