Dyess, Abilene to host international soccer tournament

  • Published
  • By 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The best men's soccer players from Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Suriname, and the United States will battle for the 2009 Conseil International du Sport Militaire Football Championship title at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium Feb. 21 to 27. 

The tournament will kick-off with the opening ceremony to be held at the Dyess Parade Ground at 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will feature a team pass in review, B-1B fly-by and a performance by the Hardin-Simmons University "Six White Horses." 

Players and coaches will be available for interviews at an ice-breaker immediately following the opening ceremony. Media wishing to attend should RSVP with 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs by Thursday and plan to meet at the Dyess main gate at 8:30. The first contest will feature the United States vs. Barbados, Saturday at 6:00 p.m. 

All games are free and open to the public. The opening ceremony is open to Dyess personnel and invited guests. 

Participants for the competition are all serving in their respective countries active-duty military and are considered the best players in their countries military. 

The all-United States team was chosen by secret ballot Feb. 7 after teams completed the U.S. Armed Forces Soccer Championship here. This year's head coach for the United States is Army Sergeant First Class Agustin Mendez.

CISM originated in 1948 with five charter nations. The United States became a member in 1951, and now the organization has 131 nations participating. The organization hosts a variety of athletic championships with its goal to provide a development of friendly relations between Armed Forces by substituting the playing field for the battle field.