Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club, owner Mitch Goldhar, the club’s directors and all the players would like to express their condolences to Avi Shefer and his family on the loss of Emmanuel Shefer, who died on Friday at the age of 89. Shefer, who made aliyah in 1950 after leading Jewish football clubs to Poland’s second league, started his playing career in Israel with Hapoel Haifa and later Hapoel Kfar Saba. But he will forever be remembered for leading the national team to their historic qualification in the World Cup finals in Mexico in 1970. From that time on he became a national symbol of consensus not only for the nation’s footballing family but in many ways for the nation as a whole. Shefer was a frequent and enthusiastic visitor at football matches throughout the country and was admired and loved by everyone. We wish his family comfort and strength in this time of loss.
A minute of silence will be held prior to tonight’s match against Hapoel Haifa in honour of his achievements and contributions to football in this country (Bloomfield, 8.15 P.M.).
