The Maccabi Hakoah Feds Committee is pleased to announce today its intention to implement a new strategic plan for our Open and U20?s/ reserve teams over the next few years. This will involve a commitment to a youth policy and a focus on more fully integrating the path from youth teams to seniors.
In this context our current coach of first grade Paul Watkins (Watto) will stand down at the end of the season. We would like to thank Watto for his professionalism and commitment to our club during this very difficult season. Watto has been with us for 3 years and we thank him for his contribution during this time and wish him well for the future.
As the first major step in our plan, we are very pleased to announce that the Feds committee have appointed Mark Robertson to be First Grade coach for 2011
Mark has recently returned from the UK where together with Hayden Foxe and John Aloisi they all completed their EUFA B coaching licence.
Marks playing career is very distinguished including starting his career as a 16 year old in the Iggy led Marconi team of the nineties and then going on to represent Australia. He also played in England and Scotland before finishing his career at the top level with Sydney FC in the A league.
Marks career reads as follows:
Mark is 33 years old and ticks all the boxes our committee were looking for as we move to implement our new youth policy for our first grade side. The committee is conscious that with the enormous talent pool coming through our youth development teams, we need a coach who will inspire and develop these players, while training and mentoring them to achieve and reach their full potential. We believe Mark is this person.
To all the old Hakoah supporters Mark's father, Alex Robertson, was one of the great players for both Hakoah and Sydney City and he too is incredibly excited about Marks return to the new Maccabi Hakoah Feds Football team.
I am sure we will all make Mark feel welcome and we are all looking forward to the new exciting era about to be introduced into our Open football teams.
Thanks and Cheers
JON MARCUSON
On behalf of the Maccabi Hakoah Feds Football Club