I know it’s very early days, but there is already a familiar look to the MSFL Premier Division table. Faithfold A have made the perfect start with three consecutive wins, but their title credentials will be put to the test when they take on defending champions Hendon United Sports Club A.
Having lost out to Hendon in the transfer window battle for star striker Jacob Gold, they will have their work cut out on Sunday.
Gold made a dream start for Hendon with a hat-trick on debut against the his former North London Raiders teammates last weekend and he has clearly made an impression on new manager David Garbacz.
“Jacob showed electric pace, excellent finishing and was a constant threat to the Raiders defence,” said Garbacz whose team stormed into a 4-0 lead inside the opening 30 minutes.
“However, it was not all about Jacob. Greg Corin, Ari Last and Rafi Kon all provided fabulous assists and we were very strong all over the park.
“It has been a very satisfying start and I could not have asked for more from the boys in these first two games.”
* Paralympics apart, there has been very little for Israeli sports fans to get excited about over the past few months.
The footballers have recorded a series of disappointing results, while the tennis players have struggled at grand slam events and the Olympics.
But Amir Weintraub’s performance in the Davis Cup has given them something to smile about.
Few gave him a chance in the pressure-cooker atmosphere at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, but he rose to the occasion to put his team back on the top table.
Weintraub’s emergence will undoubtedly give hope to up-and-coming Israeli sports stars.
* Brixton Old Boys manager John Nitka is still on the look-out for a new striker after Jamie Kent, last season’s top-scorer, decided to stay in Division One and join Shirley Park. However, I can see an in-form London Maccabi Lions A giving his team’s back five a torrid morning on Sunday. Goalkeeper Jake Doffman, you have been warned.
* Tweet of the week goes to Danny Steel of Hendon United Sports Club B. It was a laugh-out-loud moment when he revealed what he described as an “inspirational pre-match teamtalk” from joint-manager Chaim Gothold. Steel wrote: “Nobody wants to be sitting in shul for two days thinking about how we lost on Sunday.”
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