Glory days for Hakoah FC in youth league deciders

HAKOAH Sydney City East FC had a super Saturday at Sydney United Stadium on September 21, when it won two 2024 Football NSW Youth League 2 boys’ titles in one day, thanks to brilliant grand final wins by their U13 and U15 teams. The wins were the first titles for Hakoah in the FNSW Youth Leagues and capped off a strong year for the club, achieving overall fifth place in the club championship. On a sweltering day at Edensor Park, the U13s were up first, against a strong Macarthur Rams side which had pipped them to minor premiership honours on the last day of the regular season. The start of the game was scrappy as both teams fought to get a foothold. Hakoah goalkeeper Ben Katz remained alert to deal with some early Rams pressure, but as the first half wore on, the boys in blue gained more possession, and started to show the attacking form that saw them top the regular season goal-scoring chart by 27 goals. Their first goal in the decider came from the penalty spot when Nic Oosthuizen, who had won the penalty, calmly slotted the ball between the posts. U13 boys’ 2024 Football NSW Youth League 2 champions Hakoah FC. Hakoah U15 boys’ celebrating their 2024 Youth League 2 championship win. Hakoah’s second goal came before the half-time break, sinking any hopes of a Rams comeback. Great initial work was done down the right by Tristan Guardiola Gomez, who fired a low cross into the box, which was slammed home beautifully by Jonah Sarakinsky. The strength and depth of the U13 Hakoah squad was tested in periods throughout the second half, with the boys valiantly defending their clean sheet, to seal a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win. When the referee blew the final whistle, there were joyous celebrations among the Hakoah players on the field, who were joined by teammates running onto the pitch from the bench, followed by more delirium when captain Michael Rudolph raised the trophy at the presentation. The U13 Hakoah squad’s Jewish members – Rudolph, Sarakinsky, Katz, Jordan Greenberg, Ram Schroder, Rafael Custodio Levy, Diego Wolford and Amitai Kador – have been together for up to five years and will be back again next season to attempt to defend their title. Up next was the U15 boys’ grand final in which Hakoah defeated minor premiers the Northern Tigers 1-0. After a very strong regular season, Hakoah finished in second place and advanced to the decider after defeating Bankstown in an epic semi-final that they won 8-7 in a penalty shootout, after scores were 0-0 at the end of extra-time. Keeper Shiran Rubinstein was the hero against Bankstown, saving two crucial penalty attempts. In the grand final, the Hakoah U15s took an early lead with great lead-up play by Jeremy Skurnik to assist striker Cooper Marshall, who scored the game’s only goal. Determined defence, good communication and teamwork saw Hakoah hold on to win the tight contest and the championship. Many of the U15 boys have been with Hakoah FC since U9s – and some even before that with Maccabi-Hakoah – including Skurnik, Rubinstein, Eli Jocum, Ori Port, Ethan Reid, Max Kasimov and Tobi Eckowitz. Their grand final victory is a great reward for their commitment to and passion for the club. Also contributing to their, and all Hakoah junior teams’ success, were Hakoah FC’s youth president Ofer Greenberg, Mark Skurnik and his fellow board members, coaches, volunteers and parents. Greenberg said the grand final wins by the Hakoah U13 and U15 boys’ teams are “a great achievement for the club and a well deserved reward after a fantastic Football NSW Youth Leage 2 season. As a club, we pride ourselves on our development – from our SAP program all the way to seniors – and these two teams that won grand finals have many players that have come through our system. “Our coaching staff are so passionate and understand our culture and community, especially Michael Synnott, who has been with Maccabi and Hakoah for more than 10 years, and Paolo Gallo, who has been instrumental in our youth program. “Last Saturday was a day to celebrate the hard work done over many years. Seeing the joy on our players, parents, coaching staff and board members’ faces makes it all worthwhile.

SOURCE: AJN