SHAPE Football Club Visited Poland
Between 12 and 14 June SHAPE FC visited Szczecin, Poland to play a friendly match against a representative team of the Headquarters Multinationalcorps Northeast (HQ MNC NE). The invitation by Brigadier General Heinrich, Chief of Staff HQ MNC NE was extended to express the gratitude, friendship and hospitality the team from Poland received during their visit to SHAPE in 2006. Due to their deployment to ISAF in 2007, there has been no chance to return the invitation until now.
In the early morning of 12 June the team started an expected 12-hour bus drive to Poland. The entire team was well prepared for the trip. The long drive offered the SHAPE FC players the chance to discuss several strategies of play and how to react to the different tactical setups of the team. Alternative methods of practice for sessions, such as Yoga, were also discussed. Finally, the drive offered the SHAPE FC a team-building situation. For various reasons the selected and available players from SHAPE had never before played as one team. Therefore it was a good opportunity to get to know more about each other rather than just knowing first names and team positions.
We arrived around 1930 hours at the HQ in Poland. The representative of the team HQ MNC NE welcomed us and invited the SHAPE team to attend a BBQ for the EURO2008 Austria vs Poland match.
The next morning was filled with activities such as a guided tour of Szczecin, including a visit to the harbour, and a briefing about the HQ’s mission. The preparations for the match began after lunch.
After a short bus drive to the local stadium, the kick-off was taken under the eyes of around 60 visitors including Brigadier General Heinrich himself (unfortunately heavy rain had started moments before). The match was fair and friendly. The tactical guidance given on the previous day, resulted in SHAPE FC tending to control the play, and consequently they went into the lead 1-0, the goal scorer was J.Engel after a fine assist by T. Spurle. The offensive play by the HQ MNC NE team that followed, created several critical situations for our defence, but in the end between the defence line and goalie S. Wiebe with his brilliant saves, the efforts of the HQ MNC NE team were futile. On the stroke of full time the last-ditch effort of the opposition to draw the game was repulsed by our goalie and the SHAPE FC left the pitch the winning team enjoying plenty of coverage by the local media.
The evening offered another chance to confirm the traditional good relations between the HQ’s when SHAPE FC was invited to attend the end of season Allied Sports Club - Soccer Branch BBQ. Tired from the demanding match and knowing what to expect on the return drive, the players of the SHAPE FC decided to enjoy the evening and start early on Saturday morning. Finally around 1900 hours Saturday evening we arrived safely at the Main Gym.
We consider the tour a complete success and are looking forward to the next match.
Frank Reinhold
(Photos and article)