Maccabi Hakoah settles into new season

MACCABI-HAKOAH’S ESFA men’s Saturday division 2 reigning premiership winning team is faring very well so far this season, after being promoted to division 1. After three rounds, they remain undefeated, with two wins and one draw, and are in second place on the ladder, with a game in hand. Last Sunday, they defeated Coogee United 2-0. The club’s three newly-formed teams this year are settling into the competition. In Saturday division 5, Joel Engelman has resurrected a team of former players for the club, and thus far they have won two games and lost two. Last round, they lost 0-2 to a very good Maroubra side, but were in it until the last 10 minutes, when only trailing by a goal. Maccabi’s Tyler Priestman-led Saturday division 4 team achieved their first win last weekend, when defeating Easts 6-3 in a highly entertaining game. Their goals were scored by Daniel Tanchel (2), Dillon Kalish (2), Daniel Jankelowitz and Oscar Linz. Prior to that, they had a draw and a loss. This is a team that has emerged straight from the junior club, forming after many of their players returned from a gap year. Another new team at the club in Sunday division 1 is mostly comprised of ex-Hakoah players, who have NPL youth league experience and are mostly aged 20 and 21. Managed by Ethan Corrick, they play a beautiful style of football. Division 1 is tough, but although they’ve lost their first three games, two of them were decided by a goal scored by their opponents in the final minutes. Last Sunday, they played topplaced Coogee, and for the first 30 minutes, ran them around the park. But fatigue and poor discipline cost them, resulting in them playing the latter stages with only 10 men, and then just nine men, after a second red card was issued. They did score in the second half, through Saul Levy, to be in with a chance at 1-2 down, but a draw was not to be. The team is enjoying the camaraderie, and looking forward to bouncing back soon, regaining a few injured troops, and continuing to improve. Meanwhile in the 2024 Australia Cup knockout competition, Hakoah FC’s excellent run came to an end last week, with a 1-2 loss in round 5 to NPL1 side Rockdale Illinden. Hakoah’s top team will now refocus on the State League One first grade competition, in which it is currently in third place out of 16.

SOURCE: AJN