Written by Isabel Malmazada (METNY)
Next month, the Israeli National Soccer Team will play a
friendly game against Honduras on June 2nd, at the Citified Stadium
in New York, just hours after the Israeli Day Parade.
This is Israel’s first time playing in New York in
over thirty-five years; however, the game is just a warm up for the World Cup
qualifiers. The Israeli national team is ranked No. 66 in the world and is led
by coach Eli Guttman.
On May 13th, Coach Eli Guttman along with
player Daniel Amos held a phone call press conference in anticipation of the
game. I had the privilege of being able to call in on this conference and ask
them what their message is for the USY-ers and Schechter students from all over
the region that are coming out to support Israel.
“The message [for the USY-ers] is [that] our country is a
strong country. We want to develop our football and we want to show quality,”
said Guttman, “For us, it’s very, very important that the young Jewish people
that will come will leave the stadium proud about Israel’s national team.”
USY has built up a strong relationship with the Israel
Football Association, and USY-ers will have the opportunity to partake in
honorary roles before the game, like singing the Hatikvah.
I further asked what it means to be playing the same day as
the Israeli day parade.
“It’s our job to represent Israeli football and the Israeli
country as strong and professional,” said Guttman, “and one who is the best.”
Coincidentally, the New York region hosts the largest
Jewish populations outside of Israel with more than 1.5 million Jews living in
New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County.
So, it’s going to be
a great game next month! Check out USY’s personal invite to the game next month:
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