Maccabi Under-16s score goal on and off field

The Under-16 South African football team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the European Maccabi Youth Games in London this past week, but it left an impression on its opponents and those from other countries in the tournament.

“They were shocked at how good we actually were,” says the team’s captain, 15-year-old King David High School Linksfield student Saul Goldberg. “We were also complimented on how well we behaved throughout the tournament and how well we were managed.”

The team won two of its three group stage games – 8-1 against France, and 2-0 against Israel. South Africa lost to Argentina in the semifinal, meaning that it contested the bronze medal match against Denmark. The Danes, who beat South Africa 4-2 in the group stages, once again came out trumps, winning 3-1 to clinch third place.

Goldberg’s side managed to score a goal seconds before the final whistle, but it wasn’t enough. The teams to beat this year were Argentina and Great Britain. The final between the two of them was won 2-0 by the hosts, who took gold.

Goldberg says his team could have played better in a tough bronze medal match against Denmark. The boys never gave up, however, holding their heads high and playing with passion, says Darryl Sklar, the father of 14-year-old twins Asher and Aryn, who played in the team.

“The nachas from watching them play was immeasurable,” Sklar says. “The joy and pride of all the parents watching live and following from back in South Africa was amazing. It was special to watch, and difficult to remain humble, not only for my two boys but the whole team, and not only about their performance. Their maturity, composure, team spirit, and South African gees were elevated to a new level over the past 10 days.”

While most of the team members live in Johannesburg, Cape Town was represented by Herzlia students Josh Stein and Daniel Gruzd.

Goldberg, like vice-captain Raphael Kaplan, was selected captain by team vote. The team prepared for the games for three months at Balfour Park, Johannesburg. Preparations included a number of matches against Balfour’s teams and Highlands FC, as well as two five-day camps focused on skills, fitness training, team bonding, and mental preparation. They also played against Afrika Tikkun’s Under-16 team, made up of players from Orange Farm and Alexandra.

Goldberg, whose father, Jonathan, played rugby for South Africa at the 2001 and 2005 Maccabi Games, winning two gold medals, says playing against different countries was “a good experience in seeing how other countries play soccer. The refereeing was also different to South Africa. The refs were a lot less strict, and it took a lot more contact for a foul to be given.”

Having arrived in England on Monday, 29 July, the South African team played its group stage games on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the semifinal on Sunday, followed by the bronze medal match the next day.

In its 8-1 win against France, the South African team went into the match with a good mindset, Goldberg says. “We were prepared and knew we had to win this game if we wanted to make the semis, so we went in wanting to make a statement. We were pumped for the match.”

Says Sklar, “It was an interesting and confusing tournament in terms of results. Denmark lost to France in a tight game. South Africa beat France convincingly. Israel, also in our pool, had wins and suffered losses. The Europeans all have a different style of play to us. The Danes were a more polished and composed team on the day compared to our other opponents.”

Goldberg’s most memorable moments from the tournament were meeting people from different countries at the opening ceremony, and learning about their cultures.

The team had a lot of time to socialise with athletes from other countries. “Our building was right next to France, Denmark, and Israel – all the teams in our group – so we actually grew close to all of them,” Goldberg says.

“In spite of the competition on the pitch, all the boys mingled with delegations from the other countries,” says Sklar, whose eldest son, Seth, was in the South African Under-16 football team that went to the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel. “They sang, danced, and jolled together off the pitch. The Maccabian spirit lives in all the participants and their families who have had the blessing of sharing in the experience. A highlight was the kit swopping ritual after the closing ceremony, in which our boys walked off with souvenir tops, shorts, caps, and tracksuits from the other athletes.”

As part of the off-field activities, the South African team learned about antisemitism and how to respond to it. “We went on tours, to shopping centres, and on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus,” Goldberg says. “We also went to Wembley Stadium.”

The Under-16 boys doubles tennis pair of Jayden Myers and Dean Herskovits won a bronze medal to continue South Africa’s record of winning at least one medal at every Maccabi tournament the country has contested since 1935.