Hakoah, 5pm Sunday 5th May 2019 (Home)

Hakoah were formed as Sydney Hakoah Football Club in 1939 by Jewish immigrants and this year they are celebrating 80 years. The club joined the state comp in 1954 and in 1956 joined the NSWSF newly created first division. This year they became the first Australian club to appoint a full time coach - a Pommy who had managed the Israeli national team, Jack Gibbons. They originally played out of Wentworth Park in Glebe and joined the NSL in its inaugural year in 1977. They were without doubt the major force in the game for the league’s first decade. They won 4 of the first 6 titles and were runners up once. Although the club always had big backers in the Jewish community and were a successful team on the pitch, the club never had a large fan base and despite numerous name changes and publicity drives continued to haemorrhage money. By 1987 the club’s board and backers decided to pull funding as it was simply not viable to continue. Thus the most successful club in the history of the competition withdrew halfway through the 1987 season. The club played in the lower reaches of the state leagues after this, and it was only in the past decade that they began their rise to the NPL. They were promoted to the NPL 1 in 2016. They have not finished higher than 7th in that time and are currently 9th on the ladder with just 2 wins in 8 games.

The floodlights warm up, first half action

This game always has fond memories for me. It was the first game I ever came to at King Tom and I came with my wife (with the promise of fine Croatian cuisine). We drove in an old Suzuki Baleno that broke down near a Bonnyrigg petrol station. After the NRMA had fixed the old Baleno my wife insisted we go home, but I was informed King Tom was close and I begged that we still go – and so the obsession began! We got to the game, but missed the first goal and thus the meal in the club before the game. My wife was content with a cevapi roll and was laughing at the SUS singing about the Hakoah team’s lack of foreskin.

The club shop mid repainting

Since the 0-5 reverse against Marconi we have won every game and I was hoping that we could carry on the good form into today’s match against Hakoah. While they are not doing particularly well, it is a tight league this season and only 3 points separate 2nd from 8th on the ladder. In this respect it was a must win game for Croatia as they looked to build on some good recent form. My worry was that we had played Woonona & Sydney Youth in our last two games and, with respect, they were like training sessions. Hakoah was always going to be a different proposition and I am glad to say we got off on the front foot and never looked back. Apart from a half chance in the first five minutes Hakoah were not given much as we controlled proceedings from the off. The in form Simonoski had an effort that hit the bar from close range and then Gallegos had a cracking effort come off the bar 5 minutes later. Croatia took the lead at the mid point in the first half when Matthew Bilic thumped in a great free kick from fully 30 yards that beat the keeper to his left low down. It was thoroughly deserved and the only disappointment was that Croatia could not double their lead before the half time whistle.

The hill bar, fantastic service

Hakoah came out for the second half minus their top scorer, Gauthier, and this did not help their efforts. About 15 minutes into the second half the excellent Trifiro lobbed a ball over the top of the Hakoah back line and Simonoski raced clear with only the keeper to beat. With five goals in his last 2 games he was odds on to score but the goal keeper (Noval) produced a fabulous stop, and then on the rebound as well. In truth Simonoski should have scored but it was some double save. He was once again called into action when a rasping volley was tipped over the bar - it was some effort and another excellent save (I did not see who hit it). The NPL really is a great standard of football, and this game was a fine example. We knocked the ball around really well and Croatia eventually got the second goal their play deserved when Trifiro capped another top performance with a fabulous finish in stoppage time. It’s the big one next week - the original Sydney derby against Olympic. I know its Mother’s day but I’m sure she’ll understand. It’s a 5pmkick off, so get down and support the boys Sydney Croatia Ole Ole Ole….

The players thank the hill for their support