Dramatic fight for gaining victory in accordance with the rules of fair play characterised the football match between a MNC NE team and a football club from Loecknitz, Germany, which was organised in Loecknitz on 7th May 2008.
This friendly football match was initiated by a MNC NE member Master Sergeant Michael Wittig, who belongs to the Pommeranian Soccer Club (VFB Pommern) as well. He is a coach for one of the youth teams and sometimes plays as a goalkeeper in the first team.
The MNC NE team in the number of 17 players left the Baltic Barracks at 18:00 getting ready for real sports effort full of adrenaline and emotions. And they were not disappointed. The opposing team was well prepared and young in heart and age. For the MNC NE players additional challenge was that the opposing team trains on regular basis on a full size football pitch. Trainings of the MNC NE Soccer Branch are usually conducted indoors. However, to feel comfortable and simply to practise, MNC NE players received training in the outdoor conditions in the full size pitch as well.
The MNC NE team was ready to take up the fight. The emotions reached its peak. The MNC NE team was leading twice. And even though the final score was more favourable for the host team as they won 4:3, the MNC NE was satisfied with it. When the game was over, the barbecue was organised for both teams, which gave opportunities to get to know each other, discuss several issues and simply have fun together. Shortly before the end of the day, the MNC NE team came back home full of good memories.
This friendly match as well as other matches with civilian and military partners help to build good relations with the Corps environment. They also give opportunities to improve skills and prepare for future games, such as the next friendly match against the SHAPE football club team that will take place on Szczecin’s Municipal Stadium on 13th June 2008.
