Cohen: I’m praying for Muamba
OAKWOOD joint-manager Ric Blank praised his team for holding their nerve after the Division One table-toppers moved into the final of the Peter Morrison Trophy with a 1-0 victory over treble-chasing South Manchester in Whitefield.
A second-half header from supersub James Abrams was enough to earn Oakwood a place in the final at Wingate & Finchley on April 29.
“We knew we had a chance against a good South side, but we had to execute our game-plan perfectly – and we did,” said Blank.
“It was all about the players, and the attitude and commitment from the boys was spot on. They turned up with a smile on their faces and enjoyed themselves every step of the way. They played the game and not the occasion and that won us the tie.
“We were stronger and sharper all over the pitch and should have won by more – missing so many chances at the end that my nerves were shot by the full-time whistle.”
The closest South Manchester came to scoring was when Ben Peppi hit the underside of the bar from a free-kick.
The home side’s misery was compounded when Mark Stewart was sent off for two bookable offences.
“It was a very tight affair on a small pitch and we always felt one goal would be enough,” said Blank. “Despite the odd scare, we were comfortable and got better and better as the game went on.
“I don’t like singling out indiividuals but Adam Levine at centre half was Captain Marvel. He’s always been a fantastic player, but has taken his game to a new level at Oakwood. The same can be said of all the players at the club. Ilan Scorah at centre half also showed his old club what they’re missing.”
South Manchester manager Darryl Lee commented: “It was a pretty poor game of football. Oakwood were very dogged and they deserved the win.
“Our best player, Toby Levy, limped off after only 20 minutes, and with that, our best hope winning the game limped off.
“Oakwood are a top bunch of lads who were gracious in victory and I hope they go on to win it, alth although they may find things to tougher on a big pitch at Wing gate & Finchley.
“We’ve been playing p poorly since Christmas and it makes beating Manchester Ma Maccabi irrelevant, who — no disr disrespect to Oakwood — are twice i the h team they are. “It’s very disappointing as we will never have a better chance of reaching the final.”
“We must now focus on next weekend’s potential title-decider against Mace.”
Oakwood will look to clinch the JC MSFL Division One title on Sunday when they take on struggling Southgate Harmen B.
TAMIR Cohen recalled the moment Fabrice Muamba helped him overcome the loss of his father, before paying tribute to his former teammate who suffered a cardiac arrest during the FA Cup tie against Spurs.
Cohen, 28, left Bolton last season but remains “very close friends” with Muamba. In a heartfelt tribute to the player who was given life-saving treatment on the pitch at White Hart Lane, Cohen said: “I played with Fabrice for three years at Boltonandheisoneof themostwonderful guys you could ever meet.
“We’re very good friends and I’m stunned by what happened. I’m praying for him and hoping that he will recover as quickly as possible.”
Cohen, who returned to Israel to join Maccabi Haifa last August, says that he has been monitoring Muamba’s progress at the London Chest Hospital. “I’m in contact all the time with former teammates in England and I received a text message saying that Fabrice is improving and speaking,” he said. “I just hope there will be no lasting damage to the brain.”
Cohen revealed Muamba was one of the teammates who was “most supportive” following the death of his father, Avi Cohen, the former Liverpool
Tamir Cohen
star, just over a year ago. “It was Muamba together with Johan Elmander who came to me with the idea that I should have a shirt made with a picture of my father on it,” he said. “They suggested I should wear it under my Bolton shirt and if I scored I could take off my shirt and dedicate the goal to my father.”
Stuart Lustigman, the chairman of the Maccabi Masters League, has described the Muamba incident as “a real wake-up call” to Sunday morning footballers.
Lustigmanthisweekemailedallclubs in the over-35’s league, advising them to ensure they have someone qualified on hand to deal with similar incidents.
He said: “Hopefully some good has to come from adversity and we’re calling for people to be educated. The response has been good so far.
“Thefactthatithappenedinsucha high-profile match made people sit up and take notice, but at amateur level it probably happens more than we realise.”
Martin Berliner, the Chief Executive of Maccabi GB, says that he will write to all the Jewish football leagues to remind them of the importance of having a qualified first-aider. Berliner said: “We have medical staff on hand at all our events. We were on the case prior to the Muamba incident and have a duty of care to do so. All our staff are trained, including those who coach in our afterschool sessions.”