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Lustigman and Caplin to lead GB U16 at Maccabiah Games

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Adam Lustigman and Phil Caplin will oversee the Team GB U16 Futsal Team at the 20th Maccabiah Games in 2017.

Lustigman led Great Britain’s U18 Futsal Team to gold at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin last summer.

Next summer’s tournament will be the fourth time he has managed a Futsal side, with his teams having experienced mixed success at International Games. In 2011, Lustigman took the helm for the European Maccabi Games, where the Team Maccabi GB Master Futsal Team won silver. Under Lustigman GB just missed out on the medals at the 19th Maccabiah Games - finishing in fourth place.

Joint-managing with Lustigman will be Phil Caplin, a multi-cap Futsal goalkeeper who has represented his country and community and a number of major Jewish International tournaments and led the Masters Futsal Team in Berlin at the EMG2015.

Speaking about his appointment, the aims for 2017 and what level the current crop of players are at, Phil Caplin said: "Having played Futsal for over 15 years - including National league level - and participated in many Maccabiah Games, it is a great honour to be announced as joint under-16 Futsal manager for the forthcoming Maccabiah in 2017.

"It will be an amazing experience to represent Team GB once again with the objectives of the management team being to prepare a squad competing to its optimum level, capable of winning a Gold medal.

"In addition, we will also ensure that every player enjoys the cultural, educational and social elements of a Jewish, world event as well as the sporting experience. Representing your country at the ‘Jewish Olympics’ will be an experience every player will remember for the rest of their lives.

"We are fortunate that many young players are already playing futsal at a good level, and getting coached to the best of their abilities, which we've never enjoyed previously and this adds to the excitement and optimism as well as the competition for selection."

Adam Lustigman said: "It is very exciting to be appointed as joint under-16 futsal manager along with Phil, who is not only a very good friend of mine but someone whom I have selected for the previous three European Maccabi and Maccabiah Games. He has vast experience on the court, which will benefit our young squad greatly.

"As I learned from all my previous international Games, preparing a Futsal squad for competition is not all about selecting the best individual players but creating a comradery and spirit both on and off the court.

"Where Juniors are concerned we are also keen to involve the parents also, who are just as much a part of this incredible journey as those who lace up and play.

"The Maccabiah Games are, in a sense, a ‘Once-in-a-lifetime experience’ and creates moments you remember for the years that follow."

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