2006 Press Releases
Kuwaiti and American Women's Teams Hold Basketball Rematch
Al-Fatat Sports Club's women's basketball team played the Camp Arifjan American armed forces women's team in a second meeting between the two groups on Thursday, April 27. The game took place at the Al-Fatat Sports Club before a crowd of nearly two hundred basketball fans and family members. American Ambassador and Mrs. Richard LeBaron cheered on the players accompanied by U.S. Major General James A. Kelley, Kuwaiti Brigadier General Khaleel Al-Shamali, Sheikha Fareeha Al-Sabah, and Ms. Fadhila Al-Shwailan, Chairwoman of Al-Fatat Sports Club.
The Kuwaiti and American teams played a close and spirited game that delighted the audience and ended in a 71-64 result in favor of the Americans. The rematch game was held as a demonstration of teamwork and good sportsmanship between Kuwait and the United States and followed a similar competition last June in which the American team cinched a close win of 38 to 37.
Ambassador LeBaron noted that the friendly match was a manifestation of the close bonds shared between the two countries, exhibited through sports. He added that the game also displayed the determination of the teams and those who support them, including Al-Fatat Chairwoman Ms. Fadhila Al-Shwailan, Third Army Deputy Commanding General Kelley, and the Public Affairs staffs at the U.S. Embassy and Camp Arifjan who organized the event.
Before enjoying the game, Ambassador LeBaron thanked the players and everyone who worked to make this second match possible. "The basketball games not only provide American and Kuwaiti female athletes with the opportunity to test their skills against one another, but also to build new relationships and increase the friendship between our two peoples," he said.
Following the outstanding competition, General Kelley thanked the hosts and said, "it is a privilege for us to come here. We always say that we are shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kuwaitis. They are a great host to us and this is another example of us getting together and sharing some good sportsmanship and good competition--it really brings us closer together than we already are."
Fatema Al-Hamad, one of Al-Fatat’s best players during the match said, "we love to play with the American team. We played with them before and hopefully we will play with them again." She summed up the evening event saying, "it was a great game."