Fighting spirit did the trick, says FC Team boss
IT’S BEEN a tough week for so many people. Truth be told, I almost fell out of love with football over the incident involving Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba. It really hit me for six and I’ve been feeling flat all week.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, events in Toulouse put me at rock bottom. I can’t imagine how the families must be feeling. My heart goes out to them.
The one thing it has done is pull the football family and the Jewish people closer together. Although the two incidents are totally incomparable, we have been united in grief.
Given the outpouring of vitriol and hatred on the football terraces this season, it’s a shame that it needed such a horrible incident to make supporters across the globe take a step back and put things into some kind of perspective. And they say these things happen for a reason.
Then there is the question of what would’ve happened if the Muamba incident had taken place in one of the Maccabi Leagues. The consequences are not worth thinking about. Heaven forbid but that could have been your child.
Now is the time for the MSFL, the MJSL and the MJFL to wake up and take note. It’s good to hear that the Masters League have already taken action and I urge anyone who plays any sport to have regular checks. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I recall the harrowing scenes in Vienna last year when Team GB doctor Marc Wittenberg rushed on to the pitch to help clear the airwaves of a German footballer at the European Maccabi Games .
With this in mind, Maccabi GB have announced they will be running extra first aid courses for managers, referees and other officials involved in the MSFL. For details, email: Janice@maccabigb. org. I will be doing it.
A special mention goes to Michael Drucker who recently completed an incredible journey to finish the Jerusalem Marathon. Quite incredibly, Michael, who is 46 and from Edgware, lost 13 stones in 14 months and managed to cross the line in just over five hours in his first marathon.
What made Michael’s efforts all the more special was that his mother had been undergoing treatment at Jerusalem’s Shaarei Tzedek Medical Centre, and has been told by her doctors that the treatment was successful and that she was in partial remission.
Having raised £4,000 for SHALVA, Michael said: “The run was really emotional for me, not just because of how far I had come in the past two years, but also, that my mum could be at the finishing line to give me a hug. It was a real celebration of life for us both.” See Danny Caro’s weekend round-up at thejc.com. Email dcaro@thejc.com and/ or follow Danny on Twitter:@djcaro
Mitch Young, the manager of FC Team, paid tribute to his players after they ensured Premier Division football next season following a thrilling 3-3 draw against North London Raiders A.
Raiders looked to have given themselves a relegation lifeline with early goals from captain David Rhodes and Jacob Gold, but FC Team hauled themselves level by half time with a wonder goal from Craig Edwards and an own goal from Dan Levy.
Gold restored Raiders’ advantage in thesecondhalf butapenaltyfromdavid Grossman sealed their fate.
“I’m proud of the boys,” said Young. “We had a clear goal at the start of the year to maintain our Premier League place and we have achieved that with three games to go.
“We showed bottle, fight and bravery and I am so proud and honoured to manage this team.
“It is a shame one side had to be relegated today because on the back of that display Raiders didn’t deserve it. I know they will come back stronger.”
London Maccabi Lions A opened a four-point lead at the top of the table with an 8-0 demolition of relegated Southgate Harmen A. Oli Craig (2), Alex Bowman (2), captain Yoav Lebens (2), Pete Lazard and Henry Ziff registered for a Lions team who have now kept four consecutive clean sheets.
Adam Stolerman, Adam Hakimi and Ben Sollosi fired Redbridge Jewish Care A to a 3-2 victory over Faithfold A. Michael Pearson (2) replied.
TJ Keterman and Jonathan Green steered Bradymaccabia to a 2-0 victory over North West Neasden A who had keeper Mario Cenolli was sent off.
Division One promotion rivals Norstar A and Brixton Old Boys A finished all square after Jonny Kay and Sam Franks traded goals. Two goals from man-of-the-match Paul Walker helped Temple Fortune A secure Division One football again next season with a hard fought 5-3 win over Woodford Wanderers. Further strikes from Brett Stead, Michael Goldberg and super-sub Jason Miller sealed the win.
Camden Park are within touching distance of the Division Two title after David Kanzen, Josh Toff and Dan Baneth set up a 3-1 win over Norstar B.
Chaim Gothold, Raph Noe and Mikey Mendelsohn helped Hendon B clinch promotion with a 3-1 success at fellow high-flyers Faithfold B. Lions B climbed into third place with efforts from Jonny Cutter, James Gold, Will Beresford, Sam Senchal and Adam Kosky steering them to a 5-0 win over L’equipe.
A four-goal salvo from top-scorer Saul Conway eased Shirley Park a step closer to promotion in Divisionthreeastheythumped 5-1 win at Los Blancos. Joel Kutner grabbed a consolation.
Oli Joseph (3), Aron Lewis (2), Louis Taylor (2), Tony Chadwick, Benji Gourgey, Jamie Isenwater and goalkeeper Mike Perkin fired Neasden C to a 12-0 demolition of Team JLGB.
Joshdagul(2),danielharrodanddaniel Hildebrand found the net as Division Four favourites Brady B claimed a 4-2 win against Temple Fortune B.
Second-place Athletic Bilbaum cruised to a 4-0 victory over Athletico Finchley with goals from Eli Lew, Ben Bell, Julius Judah and Rob Rodney.
SPEC FC beat FC Team C 3-2 with goals from Laurence Rosenthal, Ashley Lawrence and Ashley Burns.
UJIA finished top of Group B in the JC Barry Goldstein Trophy with goals from Assi Avital, Ben Nassim and Jerry Teacher seeing off Glenthorne B.