Voice of Jewish Sport

WITH THE new Maccabi Southern Football League season fast approaching, there is certainly excitement in the air with some big managerial announcements being made. Brixton Old Boys have announced Scott Smith as their new boss. And what have they got for their money? Someone who’s played for amongst others, Barnet and LA Galaxy and trained alongside David Beckham. The division one side have certainly laid down the gauntlet for others to follow. Talking of new managers, the news that Eilon Kennet has returned to London Maccabi Lions should make the rest of the premier division sit up and take notice, with all those at Rowley Lane hoping Kennet can repeat some of his magic from his last spell at the club when they won a plethora of silverware. Lions’ director of football Andy Landesberg is unsurprisingly delighted with the appointment, saying: “Eilon returns to his spiritual home and will work closely with James Gershfield, his experience in this league is second to none. I know both of them will push the MSFL ‘A’ team onto even bigger and better things.”

SPEAKING of managerial appointments, Israeli club side Beitar Jerusalem have replaced their former boss Eli Cohen with, another Eli Cohen. However that’s where the lighter side of the club stops. The team held their first training session ahead of the new season on Monday, though saw it hijacked by their fans who attacked their own players. Swearing, spitting and throwing rocks at three players, their actions should come as no surprise to anyone, given their racist behaviour last season when the club announced the signing of two Chechen Muslim players. Once more the club have condoned the actions, as they did last season. Now is the time for action.