All-abilities team makes its mark
"To have the playing group now in the FIDA League – a proper competition where teams play for a flag – is something they can be so proud of."
Bright sunshine, great footy, and scores of cheering supporters watching from the sidelines at Gary Smorgon Oval last Sunday created a wonderful vibe and sense of community for the Maccabi-AJAX All Stars all-abilities team’s first home game in their debut FIDA League season.
For the record, the All Stars lost 69-107 to Fountain Gate in the division 3 game, but they scored 11 goals in the process, and continue to improve with each round, led by captain Bailey Layton.
The smiles on the players’ faces meant everything.
The team is coached by Jeff Israel, David Chester and Lenny Gross, and supported by Maccabi Victoria All Abilities, AJAX Footy Club, the Aronson family, and others.
Israel told The AJN to see the team participating in competitive all abilities footy is inspiring.
“The All Stars players got such a buzz out of their first home game, cheered on by a lot of people from the community,” Israel said.
“Last April we launched the Maccabi-AJAX all-abilities footy program, and ran a weekly training program, finishing with a match day, and an awards dinner.
“To have the playing group now in the FIDA League – a proper competition where teams play for a flag – is something they can be so proud of.
“They are now AJAX footballers, which is pretty massive when you think about it … it’s just awesome.”
Israel said several AJAX juniors volunteer to help the All Stars team with coaching, training and match day chores, and senior AJAX players also assist, “and often come along to their games, and get such a buzz out of supporting them”.
“I noticed one of the All Stars players, who was quite shy, was invited by some Jackas players to one of their social outings, and has really come out of his shell – it’s wonderful to see.”
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