Calgary police take on Syrian refugee team in bridge-building soccer match

It's time to put up or shut up, although Calgary police are downplaying the competitiveness of it.

Officers will hit the pitch against the Syrian Soccer Sons Monday as a way to break down barriers and build friendships.

"Sport has an incredible ability to bring people together," said Const. Kelly Mergen with the CPS Diversity Resource Team, in a statement Friday.

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"It's a place people from all communities can find common ground."

The Syrian team coach told CBC News in late August that working with the boys, aged 13 to 17, has opened his heart.

"It kind of morphed into 'uncle Abdullah' versus 'coach Abdullah'. A lot of them have different personal issues and when I got to know them personally, their history, it melted my heart," Abdullah Chybli said.

"What some of them went through and saw, it's horrible. And when I felt that, that pain that they were going through, it created a different kind of bond that I hadn't had with other kids on other teams."

"These kids truly went through hell," he added.

Staff Sgt. Graeme Smiley said the game could create connections.

"We're really excited to have the opportunity to play soccer with this team," Smiley said.

"This is a great opportunity for us to meet and learn more about the Syrian community in Calgary."

'Friendly match'

What police call a "friendly match" will get under way Monday at Forest Lawn High School starting at 10 a.m.

For police it's also a stepping stone towards the North American Police Soccer Tournament, which starts Wednesday in Calgary.

For coach Chybli though, the exhibition game and soccer in general, is about a whole lot more.

"You're in the zone when you're playing the game," Chybli said.

"When they're playing soccer, that's what they're doing, they're playing soccer. They're not thinking about anything else."

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