Jews, Soccer & Sport

18 - 25 June 2010 Sports Mad!SA JEWISH REPORT I JJews,ews, SSocceroccer & SSportport A supplementsupplement compiledcompiled by tthehe SA JewisJewishh Report Tracing the Jewish footprint in SA football Soccer has always been seen as the ‘people’s game’ and this hashas Hymie Kloner, who became a prominent football player soon after the Second World War, and went on to an illustrious career, even playing not bypassed the Jewish community. Throughout the yearsars for a time for Birmingham City in the UK. Jews have made a substantial impact on the sport in Southuth Africa, both on and off the fi eld. With the 2010 Fifa Worldrld Cup now under way, the Jewish Report takes a look at a few ooff the names that have infl uenced football in this country.ry. JACK MILNER soccer committees, but preceding them proved a great breakthrough and saw was Raymond Hack, who would have Jomo in emphatic form, scoring four WHEN SUPERSPORT United won the led the country into the World Cup as goals in the encounter. South African Premier Soccer League Safa chief executive had he not become Martin played for Highlands Park, for the third consecutive year, it was a a victim of faction fi ghting within the or- along with another famous Jewish play- proud moment for Stan Matthews. The ganisation. er, Julie Kaplan. The pair both played surname was obviously a given but it is Raymond was seen as an “Irwin through the heyday of the club’s suc- no coincidence that he carries the same Khoza man” and when the Danny Jor- cess. However, Martin later decided to name as the great English soccer player, daan bloc came out on top at the last ply his trade in the US and joined the Los Sir Stanley Matthews. election, Raymond’s career at Safa was Angeles Aztecs where he played along- “My father was a great fan of his and in the balance. In January this year he side one of the legends of the game - I was named after him,” confi rms our “resigned” his position at Safa. the great George Best. Stan. Raymond was involved with the Wits According to the Highlands Park The reason for his pride is that Stan Football Club for many years before website, Julie was such a keen mem- is the director of football for Supersport stretching his wings into the national ber of the club, that as a youngster he United and also runs their youth acade- administration. He was also one of the would daily hitch a lift down Louis Botha my. His involvement does not end there. people who went out of his way to en- Avenue in Johannesburg to watch them He heads up Supersport Africa and is on courage interracial football in South Af- train. both the Premier Soccer League (PSL) rica. By the age of 16, Julie was part of that and South African Football Association That was also true of Martin Cohen, training session, having played for Bal- (Safa) executive committees. In addition who played for Highlands Park in the four Park and then Highlands’ reserves. he also does work for world body Fifa on 1970s. Martin was involved specifi cally In September 1966 he made his full a consultancy basis. in two remarkable events in South Af- Highlands Park debut against Arcadia But one of the most exciting aspects rica. On April 20, 1974, Martin was part and within fi ve minutes won a penalty for Stan is the support Supersport Unit- of the White XI who played their black which Walter Da Silva duly converted. before Joe Frickleton broughtbrought him backback Club,Club, which had a number of Jewish ed has been getting from the Jewish counterparts in a racially charged match From 1966 through to 1971, Julie to the the clubclub in 1974.1974 playersplayers and and administrators.administrators community. “Rabbi Yossy Goldman from at Rand Stadium in Johannesburg. After regularly featured on the left side of the In 1984 Julie coached the Wits soccer Among the latter was Dave Snaier Sydenham Highlands North Shul and initially going down 1-0 to the black side Highlands midfi eld - playing a part in team and in that season they won the who went on to become chairman of the his sons are among our biggest fans. In (the goal was called off-side by referee some of the most memorable games of BP Top Eight Competition. In 2000, Julie Southern Transvaal Football Association fact, we even brought Irwin Khoza to the Wally Turner), Martin scored a crucial that time. He scored in each leg of the and his family emigrated to Perth and he and vice president of the Football Asso- shul. It was a huge success and he was goal before Neil Roberts put the game Champions of Champions clash with is now involved with Western Australia ciation Of South Africa (Fasa). warmly received,” said Stan away. Durban City which Highlands won 5-3 Maccabi in a managerial/coaching ca- Ben Machanik played right-back and Supersport is also closely associated In 1978 Martin was a member of the on aggregate. pacity, referees the occasional game captained the South African team. Mor- with Tottenham Hotspur, always known fi rst racially mixed South African team Julie represented South Africa in a and watches the blossoming talent of rie Jacobson was a fullback while Hymie as the Jewish club, in London. Chair- that played an International against Ar- memorable match against a British All his youngest son, Terence. Kloner played at right half. man of Spurs is Daniel Levy. gentina in South Africa. Jomo Sono Star team in 1973 which South Africa Many Jewish players were involved in Hymie was born on May 23, 1929 in Stan is just one of many South African was also a member of that team and in won and again against a Portuguese In- club soccer after the Second World War, Johannesburg, the son of Lithuanian im- Jews who have had a major infl uence on a rather strange move, although never vitation team which resulted in a 3-1 win but perhaps the most prominent three migrants, while Morrie was actually born soccer in this country. Ronnie Schloss sanctioned by the South African govern- for South Africa. were Ben Machanik, Morrie Jacobson in Lithuania and came to South Africa as and Stan remain the few “white”, let ment, they actually turned a blind eye Julie was transferred to Jewish Guild and Hymie Kloner. Both Ben and Hymie a child. alone “Jewish faces”, on the mainstream to the game, allowing it to go ahead. It in 1971, playing two seasons for them were members of the Marists Football Continued on page II II SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 June 2010 SPORTS MAD! Jewish community catches ...Tracing the Jewish ‘bad dose’ of soccer fever footprint in SA football Continued from page I Although Hymie’s parents were not keen on his playing football, the principal of the Jewish Gov- ernment School encouraged him, and he eventually played for the Marist Brothers club. In June and July 1950, the 21-year-old Kloner represented South Africa. Later that year he went to Eng- land on trial and was taken on by Birmingham City. He later returned to South Africa to continue his playing career and during that period represented Southern Trans- vaal. In 1954 all three played In 1976, Martin Cohen spent a succes- against a touring Israeli team ful season in North America playing for at the Rand Stadium. Morrie, the Los Angeles Aztecs with George Best who passed away in 2005, had as a team mate and was fi nally able to Prematch crowds show their support in Sandton last week Thursday with fl ags and vuvuzelas, prior to the opening a copy of the Rand Daily Mail compete against top class international game last Friday between Bafana Bafana and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg. PHOTO: ILAN OSSENDRYVER which on the front page, had a players such as Pele. photograph of himself, the Is- DAVID SAKS ChaiFM’s programming. One can tune be back in the country for the tourna- rael captain and Danny Kaye, Hymie, fondly known as “Fish” became into Jews across the board earnestly ment as expats. Also taking advan- who was performing in South Africa a legend in the world of journalism. A WEEK or two ago, the strictly Ortho- discussing and evaluating the national tage of the émigrés’ visit, are the Jew- and was given the honour of kicking On the subject of soccer journalists, dox Beth Jacob girls’ high school took team’s prospects in the competition. ish day schools. Among other things, off the game. one would have to mention Sy Ler- the unusual step of inviting a former The interest has spread into the the King David Schools’ Foundation is Morrie went on to play for Rangers, man, who this year will be celebrating Orlando Pirates star, Warren Lewis, to Jewish day schools, regardless of hosting fetes, day trips, and accom- which was owned by Syd Chaitowitz, his 50th year as a soccer scribe. When speak to the learners. their degrees of religiosity or even of modation for former Davidians. and found himself caught up in the he wrote his fi rst few lines last weekend Today fully Shomer Mitzvot, Lewis gender. The youth are generally scep- Individuals and organisations are tangled web of professionalism, which about Bafana Bafana, it was the start of used the opportunity to recount how, tical about Bafana Bafana’s chances further taking advantage of the out- was eroding the amateur status of the his ninth World Cup.

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