ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
The MSFL is full of wonderful characters but Zig Zag boss Neal Cohen is in a league of his own. The Maccabi League's answer to Mike Bassett, Cohen has run the club for 10 years but as the saying goes, all good things come to an end and Sunday was his final match in charge.
A massive Spurs fan, it was fitting that the game was at White Hart Lane, not the real ground at Spurs but just a stone's throw away, at the Community Sports Centre. Cohen received a guard of honour ahead of the match against Catford & Bromley Maccabi.
"I've had some great times," he said. "But the club and the league are not what they used to be. I don't enjoy it any more. It's becoming more expensive and for rewards not really worth it.
"I could keep it going next season but with all the duties involved in running a team, I have lost the passion.
"The young lads are nowhere near as loyal or dedicated as they used to be and winning only five out of 25 competitive games was enough for me this year.
"ZZFC have until the end of June to decide whether or not to continue, but given the financial commitment in the form of pitches and kit fees, it is unlikely which is very sad."
Cohen looks set to become a league referee. His post-match musings regularly included rants about the men in black and it is for this reason that he is the last man I'd expect to become a ref. He will be missed as a manager. I wish him the best of luck as an official.
● First we had Hapoel Tel Aviv's Etey Shechter booked for donning a kippah in celebration of a goal in the Champions League. Next, Tamir Cohen is cautioned for taking off his shirt in celebration of a goal to show a picture of his recently deceased father. I wonder what misdemeanour the next high profile Israeli to be shown a yellow will be? Answers on a postcard please.
● Team GB rugby stalwart Jonathan Seltzer will be remembered at Jock's Scrum Down at Wanstead Rugby Club on Sunday. Seltzer died of pancreatic cancer last June. His rugby career spanned over 40 years, playing in Scotland and England, progressing to referee, coach and manager. He attended the Maccabiah Games on four occasions. Wanstead RFC and a Maccabi GB XI will play a match in his memory.
● Some of the top Jewish youngsters have helped Wingate & Finchley's youth teams reach new heights this season. Nathan Sollosi and Josh Goldstein helped the club's Under 15 team complete an unprecedented quadruple. With the London FA Cup, the Middlesex County Cup and the Eastern Alliance League Cup already in the bag, the boys were forced to come through a tough test, winning three league games on three consecutive days in searing heat to seal the Eastern Alliance League.
● MAL's Yoav Lebens started the new cricket season where he left off the last. He hit a century in MAL's friendly defeat against Old Haberdashers.
● Team GB football star Scott Shulton helped Braintree Town clinch the Blue Square Bet Premier title.