Hakoah gunning for FFA Cup glory
WHEN Hakoah Sydney City East FC takes on Palm Beach Sharks in the FFA Cup round of 32, it will be defending a title the club has held for 36 years.
WHEN Hakoah Sydney City East FC takes on Palm Beach Sharks in the FFA Cup round of 32, it will be defending a title the club has held for 36 years.
The last time Australia hosted a nationwide knockout football competition was in 1968, which Hakoah won. In fact it was quite the golden age for Jewish football, as the Sydney-based Hakoah club beat out Hakoah Melbourne for the trophy.
Nearly four decades later, FFA has reinvigorated this lost footballing tradition.
The inaugural FFA Cup features a similar format to its predecessor, but this time around, Hakoah are relative minnows compared to other remaining sides, which include several Aleague outfits.
Even though the Hakoah side – which play in NSW’s third tier of football – will be firm underdogs when they face the Sharks, leader of Queensland’s National Premier League, Hakoah president and defensive stalwart Michael Katz told The AJN that his team is motivated by the weight of history behind them.
“We had a function recently and (FFA vice-chairman) Brian Schwarz spoke about the FFA Cup,” Katz said.
“Someone said, ‘what are the expectations for Hakoah?’ and we responded: ‘To retain the cup!’ We’re in the competition and that’s our aim. We’re not in it to make up numbers, but to go ahead and try and win it … Again.”
Hakoah recently secured the State League 1 title, and after a scoreless draw with Balmain Tigers last weekend the club also were confirmed as the league’s Club Champions, which combines match points from the seniors, reserves, Under-18s and Under-16s sides.
Winning the Championship is another huge coup for Hakoah amid a spectacular season.
“It was all about the league games until we guaranteed promotion, which has been the mandate of the club all season,” Katz said.
“Getting promoted means we go from a club of 16-year-olds and up, to having under-9s all the way up, which is a huge thing for the community.
This will be a huge development for the club, in terms of developing players and young Jewish kids growing up to play for Hakoah.”
With Hakoah also embarking on a comprehensive plan to re-engage with the local Jewish community, both on and off the field, the national exposure brought on by the Cup brings back echoes from the club’s heyday.
“Being in the FFA Cup is massive for the club,” Katz said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’re still running around with the feeling you can make it to a higher level, the best way to do that is to go and prove it by beating these teams. I genuinely believe some of our young players are capable of playing higher levels, both with Hakoah and maybe even the A-League.”
And who does Katz think needs to fire to get Hakoah over the line? “I think it’s all about 11 blokes, and the crowd on the sidelines, the coaches, the backroom officials, all pulling together. ’Cause on the big day, when emotions are high, it’s not about one player, but about everyone pulling together to get the win as a club.”
Hakoah Sydney City FC play Palm Beach Sharks, 7.30pm Tuesday, August 19 at Hensley Athletic Field.
Tickets can be purchased at ffacup.iwannaticket.com.au or at the gate.
ADAM BLAU
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