Maccabi SA coming home with 36 medals

JACK MILNER

The South Africa team returned with 36 medals, 19 of which were Gold, 11 Silver and six Bronze. While more medals were won in 2013 (44), the tally of 19 Golds was only surpassed in 1993 when 26 Gold medals were won. The delegation was also substantially bigger in those days.

In terms of the total medals tally, South Africa finished sixth on the log behind Israel, US, Australia, Canada and Argentina. These countries had much larger teams than South Africa.

“We had a wonderful Maccabiah and in my view there is little doubt that having a fulltime sports director has helped us immensely,” said Garrun. Alain Nathan was appointed as the fulltime sports director a few years back.

The 19 Gold medals came from the open rugby sevens team, the junior and senior cricket teams, two in athletics for Adam Lipschitz, one for bowls, four for cycling, two for golf, two for swimming and five for tennis. 

The Silver medals were, one for cycling, two for golf, two for rugby, three for squash, two for swimming and one for tennis.

Bronze medals went to the junior rugby sevens team, two to the bowlers, one to the junior boys futsal team, one for junior netball and one for squash.  

Garrun, who actually came away with three of the four swimming medals – two Gold and one Silver – added that this year the Israelis were far better organised as well.

“There were no unpleasantries; it went overwhelmingly smoothly. You always have the odd issue, but nothing of note this time. The juniors were all housed together near Hadera at an Israeli Defence Forces recreational facility. The facilities were excellent and I had immensely positive feedback,” said Garrun.

He also pointed to one team who did not win a medal but performed with aplomb.” The Under-18 boys football team do deserve a mention. They won through to the semi-finals but sadly lost to Mexico who went on to win the Gold.

“This was a team supported by Craig Nossel and were closely associated with the Selwyn Segal. Their division was strongly contested and they played with such enthusiasm. They were such a great bunch of youngsters.

“I don’t think we have ever had an Under-18 football team reach that stage of the competition in the Maccabiah,” commented Garrun.

The other team to which he gave special mention was the Under-18 futsal team who took the Bronze medal. “That was also a strongly contested sport and they beat some top teams to win their medal.”

On the other side of the coin, Garrun played down his three medal wins. “The truth is, as you get older the competition becomes weaker.” 

The cricket teams retained their high reputations by once again winning Gold. Maccabi SA have won a medal at every Games since 1973, including 10 Golds.

The juniors had lost to Australia by two runs in the round robin stage of the competition but when they met in the final the South African won comprehensively by five wickets.

They were coached by Braydon Dixon and managed by Joanne Tankle and comprised a mix of learners from King David Linksfield, King David Victory Park, Crawford College Sandton, Jeppe Boys, St Davids, Rondebosch High School and SACS. Team captain Guy Sheena was named Man of the Match in the final.

Captained by Wayne Josselsohn, the seniors also suffered one defeat in the round robin but then beat the UK in the final. and once again it was a comfortable victory. They were beaten by the US in a match refereed by Jonathan Kaplan, so nobody could accuse him of favouritism. 

The Junior rugby team also won Silver and were beaten by Israel in the final. 

Tennis is the sports that has been the biggest medal winner for Maccabi SA over the years and that was the case again, but it was all down to the ladies.

Jacqui Boyd has been competing in the Maccabiah since 2005 and has amassed a number of medals, including Gold, since then. This year she competed in the Masters Division for the first time and won two Gold medals – in the 35+ singles and the 35+ mixed doubles where she teamed up with a player from Finland.

Lynne Gottschalk and Anthula Markovitz won Gold in the 65+ Masters women’s doubles competition, Gottschalk added another in the 65+ singles and Maeve Samuels struck Gold in the 70+ singles and Silver medal in the 65+ mixed doubles.

As far as golf is concerned, a legacy continued when Judd Sundelson won Gold in the individual boys competition and another in the junior team event. He is the son of Barry Sundelson and the third generation  Sundelsons to have played and won medals in the Maccabiah.

It was started by Neville Sundelson and continued by sons Barry and Dean.