Minor premiership all but won
MACCABI Hakoah remained undefeated, extending its lead at the top of the New Zealand National Futsal League in Dunedin on the weekend.
MACCABI Hakoah remained undefeated, extending its lead at the top of the New Zealand National Futsal League in Dunedin on the weekend.
The Sydney side won five matches in a row and now leads the competition by 10 points.
It would take a complete capitulation for Maccabi Hakoah to lose the minor premiership with five matches remaining in the regular season.
“It was another amazing weekend,” goalkeeper John Myers said.
“We’ve gone a long way towards capturing the minor premiership, but the teams were a lot stronger this round and if they continue to improve further, we could still falter.
“We have a lot of respect for the New Zealand teams and we have learnt to be less naive in defence and to really strengthen our game.”
Myers added that being a part of the national New Zealand competition has been a great experience.
“The amazing part of this for me is the general excitement from the New Zealand Futsal Association about having us here because they have really embraced us and we appreciate it.
Maccabi Hakoah started Saturday by defeating Auckland team East City 4-2. They then easily defeated both Canterbury Futsal and Capital City Futsal, which is second on the ladder, 3-0.
With confidence, and the knowledge they could secure a finals position, Maccabi Hakoah returned on Sunday to beat the home team in Dunedin, Football South Futsal, 4-1, and then the Red Sox, from Palmerston North, by the same scoreline.
Jarrod Basger scored seven goals in five games, but Myers said Doron Pozniak was clearly the player of the weekend.
“Jarrod just turned 20 and he is a genuine talent and a superstar in the making, but Pozniak was sublime,” Myers said.
“His pin-point passing was brilliant, he marshalled the troops really well. While the goals are exciting to watch, most of the work done on the court is off the ball and the players recognise that.”
East City was the most impressive New Zealand team with 25 goals in five games.
The competition will conclude when the last round of games are played on Saturday, March 5, in Auckland before finals the next day.
JOSHUA LEVI
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