Voice of Jewish Sport: Title race could be the closest one ever

AS WE enter the business end of the Jewish football season, it’s quite conceivable to suggest we could be in store for one of the closest run Premier Division title run-ins for a long time – if not ever. As a result of last weekend’s fixtures which saw the top-four sides go head-to-head, the top seven teams in Jewish football’s top-flight are now separated by a mere six points. While the current top three, Redbridge, Raiders and Hendon, were the pundits favourites to challenge for the title at the start of the season, Camden, Oakwood and Harmen are far from giving up the ghost, and are each in bullish mood when it comes to speaking about their respective title chances. There may still be a way to go, but one thing’s for sure, keep this up and we’re set for one thrilling title race.

AVRAM GRANT is fast approaching the end of his first year in charge of the Ghanaian national team, and while he may believe he’s done a good job so far, there is far from universal praise coming from the African country. While pundits and former players have branded him ‘lazy’ amongst other things, he has nevertheless guided them through to the next round of African World Cup qualifiers, though hardly did it in style, beating minnows Comoros – ranked 147 places below them in the FIFA rankings – 2-0 after a two-legged tie, which included a goalless first leg. In his favour is the fact that he was a missed penalty away from winning the African Cup of Nations with them back in February, a month after being appointed coach, similar to his near-miss with Chelsea in the Champions League. He and Chelsea parted ways soon after, if current form and criticism continues, we may see history repeat itself.

AND FINALLY, congratulations go to both Stuart Lustigman, who has been appointed Honorary Life President of the European Maccabi Confederation, and Stuart Greenberg, who is the EMC’s new President.