DOHA, Qatar -- American Justin Fausett (6) tries for a steal in a scrimmage game against Al Ahli here Oct. 22. Fausett is an Army sergeant assigned to Army Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base. He and his joint-service teammates will become the first Americans to play in the nation's capitol city league Nov. 9. Fausett is deployed from Fort Lewis, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William J. Sharp)
DOHA, Qatar -- American Will Spencer (4) shoots for two in a scrimmage game here Oct. 22 against Al Ahli. Spencer and his teammates will become the first Americans to play in the nation's capitol city league Nov. 9. Spencer is an airman first class assigned to the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group at Al Udeid Air Base and is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. William J. Sharp)
American forces join Qatari basketball league
by Master Sgt. William J. Sharp
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
10/29/2003 - 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.
