Looking for W-League glory
Two Jewish players will star in the Westfield W-League for the first time – for rival clubs – when the new season kicks off next week.
Two Jewish players will star in the Westfield W-League for the first time – for rival clubs – when the new season kicks off next week.
Melissa Maizels – who represented Australia at this year’s Maccabiah Games after discovering she was Jewish – will put on her gloves for a second season as Perth’s goalkeeper when the Glory take on Melbourne City at NIB Stadium on October 27.
Two days later, new Western Sydney Wanderers signing, Israeli Lee Falkon, will take to the field in the Wander Women’s round one away game against the Newcastle Jets.
Falkon, who grew up in a kibbutz and played in a boys’ competition before beginning her career at ASA Tel Aviv University, is an attacking midfielder who has played 37 games for Israel’s national team.
The 25-year-old helped Danish club Brondby IF reach the 2015 UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, and arrived in Australia last month after a successful two-year stint with German club MSV Duisburg, which was promoted back to the top division.
Falkon told The AJN she has heard a lot of great things about women’s football in Australia and can’t wait to get into the thick of the W-League.
“It’s going to be very exciting for me – after playing in Germany I wanted to have a change and this opportunity at the Wanderers came up and I was so happy to take it,” Falkon said.
“Of course I knew about how well the Matildas (Australia’s women’s national team) are playing and the high quality of players in the W-League, but I was also impressed by the effort Australia is putting into the women’s game and the growing crowds.
“I love it when lots of people come to watch games because it gives you that extra motivation, and it’s also really good that W-League games are shown on TV.
“I’m really happy to have this chance to play here.”
Falkon is impressed with the Wanderers’ set-up and said they made the transition easy.
“The club is like a big family, training has been great and all the girls are really nice and hang out a lot together, which was not really the case in Germany.
“I like to make assists, score goals and make an impact for the team, but for me it’s also about having fun on the field and enjoying my football.”
National duties will keep Falkon busy ahead of her W-League debut.
She flew to Belgrade last Sunday to play for Israel in a 2019 Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Serbia.
For Maizels, it will be about making this season one to remember.
Having moved from Melbourne Victory to Canberra United, Maizels signed for Perth Glory in 2016 and played six games before losing the number one goalkeeper position through injury.
Maizels could not find her way back into the side, and watched on as Glory lost last season’s grand final against Melbourne City.
“My number one goal this season is to help my team win a championship,” Maizels told The AJN.
“Last year we came so close and fell at the last hurdle.
“This season I plan to make sure I do everything I can to secure the championship.”
The 24-year-old Melbourne-born goalkeeper, who only found out about her Jewish heritage earlier this year before representing Australia at the Maccabiah Games, has some enormous personal aspirations to match her ever-improving talent.
One day, Maizels would like to call herself a Matilda.
“It has been my dream ever since I began playing at 10 years old to represent my country,” Maizels said.
“I am still working towards that goal daily and don’t plan on letting up until that opportunity comes.”
Travelling to Israel earlier this year came as a pleasant surprise to Maizels who said she learnt an incredible amount both on and off the pitch.
“It was an unforgettable experience. But more than the football, the friends I made and culture I experienced were so incredibly valuable and I have taken so many life-long memories from the trip that will shape and influence the rest of my life.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them all [Maccabiah teammates] when I come to play in Sydney and Melbourne.”
SHANE DESIATNIK AND DANIEL SHANDLER
comments