Maccabi-Hakoah makes history
THE Maccabi-Hakoah futsal team is set to compete at the highest level attained by an Australian Maccabi team, when it takes the court at the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Club Championships in March.
THE Maccabi-Hakoah futsal team is set to compete at the highest level attained by an Australian Maccabi team, when it takes the court at the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Club Championships in March.
The team won the right to represent Australia at the elite competition after winning the inaugural domestic competition, the F-League, in May last year, and the players will now get the chance to test themselves against the best professional teams in the region.
John Myers, the driving force behind the team since its establishment, said this was a big step.
“The fact of the matter is that we have had a fairly full futsal calendar, but this is a unique opportunity and we are extremely excited to be able to provide this opportunity as a Maccabi club,” Myers said.
“For us, as minnows, to come through and earn the right to play in such an amazing event is great for the club and the players as we head towards the 2013 Maccabiah Games.”
Maccabi will compete against teams from Vietnam and China in Asian East Group A from March 19-24 in the AFC Championships.
The top two teams from the group will play against the top two from Group B, which includes Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar.
The winners in the group stages will progress through to the quarterfinals later this year.
“We have decided to bring in some additional players from outside the club to help improve the standard of the team, but our main focus is on Maccabiah in 2013,” Myers said.
“Those players are going to help our young players improve
so they are at their best for the competition in Israel next year.”
The AFC Futsal Club Championships represent the culmination of an amazing 12 months of futsal for the team.
They team began last year by winning the inaugural New Zealand National Futsal League, and then the players went to Vienna and won gold at the European Maccabi Games.
On returning to Australia, the team won the inaugural F-League and qualified for the AFC Futsal Club Championships.
“It’s been a long year and now we are looking towards Maccabiah,” Myers said.
JOSHUA LEVI
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