Duo named to lead GB girls football team at 2015 Berlin Euro Games
Matthew Travers and Nicole Sawdaye will both lead Team Maccabi GB’s junior girls football squad for the European Maccabi Games 2015 in Berlin.
Travers is a full time coach and has a vast footballing pedigree having spent much of his career at the Arsenal Academy and as Head of Sport for Maccabi GB. He made history in Jewish Football becoming the first Manager to lead a London Maccabi Lions team to a top league title at youth level, winning the Watford Friendly League with the U15s in 2011. Matt is also an experienced international Manager, having overseen numerous Team Maccabi GB Boys Football Squads for the JCC Maccabi Games – winning gold in 2009, 2010 and 2011 – and the Girls Football Squads in the same competition in 2012 and 2013. He will also lead the Girls side this summer in New Jersey.
The team’s Co-Manager will be Nicole Sawdaye. Having played football at youth level until the age of 16, Sawdaye grew to become one of the top female Jewish Lacrosse players in the country. She represented Team Israel in Canada in July 2013, playing in the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. In December she was part of the coaching team for the Israel U19 Lacrosse Team. Nicole is also experienced with Team Maccabi GB having coached and managed the JCC Maccabi Games Lacrosse Team in 2012 and 2013. She will also be going to the JCC Maccabi Games in Cherry Hill this summer.
Speaking about what it feels like to be appointed in his role, and what his aims are for Berlin 2015, Matthew Travers said, “It is a great honour to be managing the Girls Football Team for Berlin. Having previously taken part in the JCC Maccabi Games I cannot wait to be a part of the worldwide Maccabi family. I have seen so many great images from past trips and heard such inspiring stories from past participants. To lead a team to the European Maccabi Games is a fantastic opportunity for the Management Team and players alike. To be able to represent British Jewry, in a Jewish sports competition, in Berlin in 2015 will be something my family, my ancestors and indeed myself will be immensely proud to do.”
Nicole Sawdaye added, “I am extremely happy to be appointed as one of the Junior Girls Football Managers for the European Maccabi Games in Berlin. Having coached in several JCC Maccabi tournaments I know what an amazing experience it is for both players and managers to represent the British Jewish Community. I’m looking forward to being a part of such a significant European Games and working to ensure that all the girls have a meaningful experience, both on and off the pitch.”
Travers and Sawdaye are looking to recruit as many players as possible to attend trails at a later date and there is a particular demand for Goalkeepers. Any U16 girls who can play in that position should make themselves known to Maccabi GB immediately.
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