Voice of Jewish Sport: Hendon’s mighty fall from grace

IF SOMEONE had said at the start of the season, Hendon A would have lost four of their opening nine matches, you’d have been laughed out of town. However, that is the startling fact which is staring the treble winners from two seasons ago directly in the face. Three wins from their opening three games didn’t suggest the troubles that lie ahead, but they certainly find themselves in a predicament now. Manager David Garbacz said: “This is the first mini crisis that I and a number of the Hendon players have ever had to endure and we don’t like it. We need to turn it round, show far more professionalism and remind everyone what a serious talented team we are. The league is now totally out of the equation, but for me the remaining league matches are vital to prove to ourselves more than anything that we will not crumble and that we still have what it takes.” Vowing to make up for their league failings by stamping their authority on the cups, he said: “We will go all out in the two domestic competition and still believe we have the class to win one of those this year.” The rest have been warned, though how much attention will they pay to it?

ISRAEL HAS this week been preparing for the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Netanya. The Wingate Institute will be welcoming world record holders and Olympic champions as 600 swimmers from 47 countries will be taking part in five days of competition. Israel, who will be playing hosts for the first time, will have 46 Israelis taking part, and will be looking to add to their medal count, having won at least one medal in the past three tournaments.

CONGRATULATIONS go to Richard Goodman, who has been named in The British Athletics’ U23 team for the European Cross Country Championships in Hyères, France, which take place next Sunday.