Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
20 July 2007
Football match marks milestone in Iraq reconstruction
Soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 played the Iraqi Army in a game of football as part of the celebrations surrounding the first anniversary of Al Muthanna being granted Provincial Iraqi Control.
Spurred on by the Socceroos' recent defeat at the hands of the Iraqi national team in the Asia Cup, the Diggers produced a gusty effort to hold the Iraqi soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, to a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Corporal Sam Clarke, of Kempsey, NSW, was the hero of the day for the Australians, scoring all three goals.
The grim determination of the Australians was matched by the toughness of the Iraqis, many of whom played in bare-feet on a rock-hard desert pitch.
The game was played early in the morning of 18th July, at the Eastern Barracks, near the provincial capital of As Samawah, well before the daily temperature peaked at 47 degrees celsius.
The match was part of the celebrations held to mark the progress over the past 12-months since Al Muthanna was granted Privincial Iraqi Control (PIC) on 13th July 2006.
The local people thanked the Australians for the match and for their support helping with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Iraq.
Approximately 515 personnel, drawn mostly from Darwin's 1st Brigade, make up the Overwatch Battle Group (West) - Three (OBG(W)-3). The Battle group is helping the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Provincial Governments build a secure and stable Iraq. OBG(W)-3 operates in the Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces as part of the Multi National Force - Iraq (MNF-I).
| 20070718army8500215_042 Australia goes on the attack during the friendly soccer match against the Iraqi Army. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_043 Iraqi defenders swarm on an Australian attacker as he dribbles the ball into the penalty box during the match played in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 04 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_047 Australian and Iraqi soldiers contest the ball during a friendly soccer match played in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_083 Australian and Iraqi soldiers contest the ball during the friendly soccer match played in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_139 Soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 desperately defend their goal as an Iraqi soldier goes on the attack. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_148 Corporal Sam Clarke, a three-goal hero, heads the ball during the friendly match between the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 and the Iraqi Army. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_184 Crews of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles had a ring-side seat of the soccer match between the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-3 and the Iraqi Army. (Date taken: 18 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_250 A crowd of 500 watched soldiers of the Overwatch Battle Group play the Iraqi Army in a friendly soccer match. (Date taken: 04 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070718army8500215_312 Lieutenant Colonel Jake Ellwood presents Brigaider Salim Jaber of the Iraqi Army with a certificate of friendship after the friendly football match. (Date taken: 04 July 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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