Team Israel brings home the Harmony Cup

Source: The Australian Jewish News

In the perfect preparation for this weekend’s opening round of the 2025 VAFA footy season, mostly AJAX Football Club players – representing team Israel – won the 2025 Australian Football International (AFI) Harmony Cup men’s division 1 title last Sunday at Royal Park North in Parkville.

It was the first time team Israel won the tournament’s top division, but they won the division 2 title last year, and also in 2004. It was an extra special moment for veteran Yehuda Gottlieb, who team captain Zev Aron said is the only member of the side who had played in all three Harmony Cup title wins. After thumping Ireland 34-1 and Nauru 36-13 in their pool games, Israel defeated Ireland 29-8 in the decider. Player of the Match was Eitan Potash, while Aron won the division’s Best & Fairest award winner. About a dozen AJAX players also filled in for a United Nations team that played in division 2.

Aron told The AJN that team Israel featured 10 young players who demonstrated their potential, and who are part of an influx of young recruits to AJAX men’s teams. “Winning the Harmony Cup bodes well for the club for the season ahead,” Aron, who captained the AJAX Sunday Thirds division 1 men’s team in 2024 that reached the VAFA preliminary final, said. “Last season, we had a squad of 40 in our Thirds, so 15 guys missed out on playing each week.

“This off-season, we’ve grown the squad to 60, so we will be fielding two Sunday Thirds teams this year. Our division 1 Thirds are promoted to A grade, which is very exciting, and our new Thirds second team will play in the lower grades.” Aron thanked the players, coaches, fans and sponsors for team Israel’s success, and said the Harmony Cup “was played in good spirit by all the teams, and there was even a kosher barbecue”.

AJAX will also aim for another productive season in men’s Premier C, having finished runners-up in reserves last year and semi-finalists in seniors.