AJAX footballer mourned
“Gil was a beloved teammate, friend and part of the Sunday footy team.” Friends and AJAX teammates are mourning the loss of young footballer Gil Kras after a tragic accident.
Tributes have flowed for AJAX footballer Gil Kras, 21, after a tragic fatal accident.
The young footballer’s AJAX teammates took to Instagram to express their shock and sadness at the sudden passing of their beloved ‘Number 43’ player.
“From the moment he pulled on the AJAX jumper, which he wore with the same pride as his beloved St Kilda colours, Gil brought unmatched heart and dedication to the game he loved.”
Contacted by The AJN, AJAX Football Club president Alida Lipton said she and the team, “are heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing …. Our thoughts are with his parents Debbie and Alan, siblings Marni, Kimberly, Timna, Harley and Chelsea, their partners and extended family.
“Gil was a beloved teammate, friend and part of the Sunday footy team and embodied everything it means to be an AJAX football player, both on and off the field.”
Maccabi Victoria co-presidents Dean Mohr and Sharon Roseman told The AJN the organisation “is deeply saddened … Gil’s passion, leadership, and camaraderie left an indelible mark on those around him, both on and off the field”.
Mount Scopus Memorial College, where Kras graduated in 2021, posted that it was “saddened and heartbroken by the sudden and tragic passing”.
Friends of Kras, including longtime friend Zak Sztrochlic, contacted The AJN with a reflection, “Gil was a shining light in the lives of his friends. His infectious smile, witty sense of humour, and unique perspective on life enriched everyone around him.
“Whether it was travelling, Jewish learning, or countless hangouts and nights out, Gil’s presence made every moment more meaningful. It is with deep sadness that we face the reality that Gil will not be with us physically for many of our life’s milestones, yet the spirit and lessons he taught us in just 21 years will remain in our hearts forever.
“The world has lost a true mensch and a future leader far too soon. We love you Gil.”
Kras had begun for AJAX in the juniors, captaining the under-13 side in 2016. After returning from his gap year in Israel, he chose to play Sunday football to accommodate his religious beliefs, something he was deeply passionate about.
Among many communal involvements, he was active in Bnei Akiva and volunteered for the Community Security Group.
In 2018, The AJN featured Kras in a photo spread when he was a ball kid at the Australian Open, noting his early-morning starts, the daily briefings and the multiple court sessions to which he applied himself with enthusiasm.
At his funeral at Melbourne Chevra Kadisha cemetery in Lyndhurst on December 11, he was described as “an everyday hero… you couldn’t be in his orbit without feeling his glowing presence”.
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