American forces join Qatari basketball league

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. William J. Sharp
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AFPN) --  Varsity basketball and history are in the making here, and the host nation’s king may be the reason why.

The newly formed American Forces basketball team, made up of servicemembers in the area, will play a Qatari army team in the nation’s capital city, Doha on Nov. 9. The game will mark the first time Americans have played in the league.

The team’s origin occurred at a recent meeting between the king and the area’s senior military leaders. During the meeting, the king expressed interest in having his country’s basketball teams play against a U.S. armed forces squad. Word quickly filtered down through various commanders in the area.

Tech. Sgt. Richard Byers, assistant noncommissioned officer in charge of rations for the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron here, agreed to help lead, recruit and coach the team.

Although league games will be played indoors, the team lacks an indoor gym and has practiced outdoors in 100-degree heat. Byers said he hopes the training will help condition the team.

“Some of the league’s players also play on the Qatari national team and have been scouted by National Basketball Association teams. We know the games won’t be easy,” Byers said.

“We also want to have fun and, most importantly, to act as international ambassadors of basketball,” he said. “As military servicemen, we understand what we’re here for and the importance of our work. In that respect, we think of basketball as an international language. We’d like to use it to continue building the positive relationship the area bases have with our host nation.”

International rules, like those used at the Olympics, will be used in league play. International-rules teams tend to play tough, physical defense and use a fast-paced offense. There are four city leagues. If the team does well in the league, it can move up to the next competition level where teams are better skilled.

The team’s biggest challenge so far has been continuity. It has been hard to “gel” together when work schedules and frequent military transfers cause instability in the lineup, Byers said. He counters by sticking to the basics.

“We keep it simple -- run, pass, shoot,” Byers said.

The American team has already tested itself. It crushed a Filipino team Oct. 5, 104-42, but Byers downplayed the lopsided victory because the opponents “didn’t have all their players.”

A few days later, the Americans scrimmaged against the Qatari national squad, a team which finished third in a recent all-Asia tournament. This time the Americans were without their big men and, although no score was kept, it was obvious they had been outplayed.

A former all armed forces standout player, Master Sgt. Charles Caldwell said he wants to be a catalyst toward the team having a winning season. The 6-foot 6-inch, 265-pound center and power forward is assigned to the Combined Air Operations Center here.

“I hope to bring experience and leadership to the games,” said Caldwell who has played in German leagues against players 7-feet tall. “Experience is the only situation where you get to test before the lesson. That means I hope to help the younger or inexperienced players avoid mistakes before they’re made.

“I also hope my size forces opponents to collapse their defense on me. That will help free up my teammates for open shots,” Caldwell said.