Girls’ rep football decision overturned

DAVID WEINER

AFTER an intense year of lobbying, Football New South Wales (FNSW) has reversed its controversial decision to relegate the University of New South Wales (UNSW) representative sides from its Women’s Super League competition.

It has reinstated a combined UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA) joint venture into the 2010 Super League, delighting a large number of Jewish youngsters who now have the opportunity to play rep football for their district again.

The decision to pull UNSW had a direct influence on Jewish football because of the large number of players in the under-12 and under-14 sides who were Jewish in 2008.

An impressive number of players successfully played for the Inter Lions, Sydney Tigers and St George instead in 2009, while the remaining members of the side played for UNSW in an older age group in ESFA’s local league.

ESFA vice-president Peter Kriesler, whose two daughters travelled to the inner-west twice a week to train with the Tigers during 2009, was part of the bid team and said the move would assist all aspiring young footballers, while opening doors for Maccabi youngsters to try their hand.

“What we’re hoping is it will improve the quality of all football. It will enhance the football experience for Jewish footballers and all Eastern Suburbs footballers,” said Kriesler.

“Most clubs see it as a mark of success to get players into rep teams. It’s a great compliment to the club that’s produced them. A lot of Maccabi players are good enough to do it.”

Maccabi played a strong role in introducing female football to ESFA, and the strong female set-up that has evolved over the past five years gave the bid the credentials to get over the line.

Club media spokesman and parent Geoff Sirmai said it was a “sad story that has a happy ending”.

“It’s a huge win for local Jewish girls keen on football at higher levels, and we know Maccabi has had huge growth in this area over the last six years,” he said.

“It’s back better than it was before. Now a pathway for elite soccer for the Eastern Suburbs -— Jewish kids specifically. All the things we were lamenting, no local pathway, no rep football, is back again.”

The club has launched a competition to decide its new emblem, to be judged by former Australian internationals Paul Wade and Amy Beattie, with the winner to receive two Sydney FC season tickets.

Player trials will be held from November 10-19. Enquiries: www.unswsoccer.com.