Adam Lustigman will spearhead the Team Maccabi GB Masters Futsal Squad for the European Maccabi Games 2015 in Berlin.
Next summer’s tournament will be the third time Lustigman has taken up this role, 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 an impressive silver medal.
Last July at the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel the same side just missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth place. With this being his third managerial appointment for Team Maccabi GB, Adam Lustigman is looking to follow in the footsteps of his father, Stuart, who represented Great Britain at seven major Maccabi International tournaments.
Lustigman said: "I am honoured to be appointed as Team Maccabi GB Masters Futsal Manager for my third consecutive tournament. I feel that we under-achieved in Israel [at the 19th Maccabiah Games], just missing out on a bronze. However, looking back, we were blighted by major injuries both before we left and in our first two matches, so we are at least looking to match the silver medal success we had in Vienna.
"This competition is especially poignant, being held in Berlin. The last European Maccabi Games in Vienna was special and, of course, Israel always is, but the European Maccabi Games 2015 is about more than sport this time – it is about representing British Jewry in Germany."
Talking about his squad selection criteria, Lustigman continued: "Competition for places will be tough. We already have four Masters players involved in the FA National Futsal League Matches with Maccabi GB Futsal Club. However, with most of my squad now over 40-years-old, there is definitely room for youth!
"My background with Faithfold FC means I have some good contacts to help me find a good blend for the squad. Futsal is in the public eye more than ever before. As a fast-growing sport it requires team spirit, fitness, ability and experience. These are all massively important, but I am also looking for that rough diamond who has been hiding away from the Futsal scene."
Lustigman is also looking to add a non-playing assistant-manager in the coming weeks.
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