First test for Maccabi's new non-Jewish policy

IN what is shaping up as the first real test of Maccabi Australia’s (MAI’s) controversial new regulations on non-Jewish players, Maccabi NSW looks set to force its basketball club to justify the inclusion of boom recruit and former Sydney Kings captain Ben Knight (pictured) in its Premier League team.

The move comes as a shock, with the states yet to officially adopt the constitutional changes made by the peak body back in November. Despite this, Maccabi NSW vice-president Daniel Hochberg said the former National Basketball League star would have to comply with the new rules.

The amended constitution only permits non-Jewish players when a club is struggling for survival, when a sporting association’s rules or constitution do not allow for qualification of an individual club member or when a club or team is operating at an elite level and needs additional players to support its position in the league.

Neither Maccabi NSW nor the basketball club have adopted the new constitution, but Hochberg’s comments seem likely to force the club’s hand.

The federal body’s new constitution requires clubs to seek permission from a Maccabi Australia board when they recruit new non-Jewish players.

“If Ben Knight wishes to play, he will need to go through the process of confirmation as outlined by Maccabi, following a long period of consultation with all stakeholders and the wider community, which is in the process of being implemented,” Hochberg told The AJN.

Maccabi NSW Basketball Club president Michael America said the club doesn’t have a problem with non-Jewish players. “We have maybe two non-Jewish players in the club and they are our marquee players and coaches. Even our elite teams are Jewish, but we are not using [non-Jews] to create a team like some other clubs in Sydney.”

America said the introduction of former NBL star Bruce Bolden several years ago in the club’s top team had been great for the players.

“Bruce has been a valued member of our Premier League team and I have my eye on Ben so that if we make a second Premier League team then he can become the marquee player for the second team. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of options until you can find a talented 6-foot-10 basketball player.”