A week ago, Tus Makkabi footballers canceled all their games in light of Hamas’ attacks on Israel. On Sunday their men’s teams competed again – accompanied by a lot of police, great uncertainty, but also solidarity.
The scene on the Anadoluspor Berlin football field in Kreuzberg was as impressive as it was extraordinary. 45 police officers in their thick uniforms had made their way to the sports field. On Sunday afternoon, some of them stood directly on the sidelines, others a few meters further away at the fence, and others at a makeshift bag check at the entrance. The involuntary reason for the high security precautions was Anadoluspor’s Sunday opponent: Tus Makkabi.
TuS Makkabi Berlin has resumed playing and training operations
After a training break of several days and the cancellation of a league game due to the Hamas attack on Israel, TuS Makkabi Berlin wants to play again. Makkabi’s next opponent and the Berlin Senator for Integration have expressed their solidarity.more
A bad week with lots of conversations
Its second men’s team resumed play at Anadoluspor on Sunday. A little later in the afternoon, the Jewish club’s first team returned to the pitch in the third round of the Berlin State Cup at Berolina Stralau. And even though the police presence there wasn’t quite as large as in Kreuzberg, the extraordinary character of the game was still clearly noticeable in Stralau.
Last weekend, Makkabi completely canceled all of its teams’ games in view of Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel. A week later, as well as further attacks and harsh counterattacks by the Israeli military, Makkabi’s men’s teams were playing again – accompanied by great concerns about the conflict in the Middle East and the desire for normality.
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A complex mix of emotions was generally felt, no matter who you spoke to on Sunday during the two Maccabi Games. Of course, the players and supporters of Makkabi themselves were particularly affected. A club official, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, said: “We were all shocked and still don’t understand what actually happened and why it happened.”
Wolfgang Sandhowe, the coach of Makkabi’s top league team, also reported on the extremely difficult past few days after his team’s 4-1 win against Stralau. “I’ve been a coach for 38 years, but this was the worst week I’ve been through in my career,” said Sandhowe. “We talked a lot about what happened in Israel. A lot of it is very depressing.” Nevertheless, Makkabis players and those responsible did not want to cancel any games again this weekend.
A lot of understanding from other clubs
A week ago it was different: “We had to make a decision on the day the terrible attacks took place,” said the club official mentioned on Sunday.
Instead of the usual ratings for such short-term cancellations, Makkabi received a lot of understanding from the other clubs, the Berlin and Northeast German Football Associations. “We then adapted the security concepts in close coordination with the Senate and the police so that we were able to resume men’s games.”
According to the person responsible for Makkabi, there is an overarching reason why this happened this week and not in the next week: “We neither want to hide or give the others the feeling that they have won anything.”
The attack on Israel and the developments in Berlin and Brandenburg
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No non-sporting incidents
For Makkabi, it’s actually about more than just not hiding. The aim is to present an alternative to the religious and nationalist conflicts surrounding the Gaza Strip. With passion and visibly moved, Wolfgang Sandhowe said on Sunday: “Whether someone here is Muslim, Jewish or Hindu, it doesn’t matter. We are a family, have 16 nationalities and live the way it should actually be in the whole world. ” Makkabi’s trainer added that it hurts him that police protection will probably continue to be necessary for this over the past weekends.
However, Sandhowe, his players and colleagues at Makkabi must have been pleased with the sympathy and understanding that the club has received in recent days. “At the moment we are only experiencing solidarity,” said the person in charge in Makkabi. There was a minute’s silence in the run-up to both Maccabi games this weekend.
There were also some spectators on the sidelines on Sunday who had come to the games in advance to show solidarity with Makkabi. Under the numerous eyes of the police, they also ensured two games without any significant incidents off the pitch. “It was a very calm atmosphere,” said Wolfgang Sandhowe after the game at Berolina Stralau, “the spectators, the opponents, everyone here treated us very well.”
However, there was no exuberant joy or even euphoria on Sunday given the progress in the respective cup competitions for Makkabi’s first and second teams. The uncertainty of everyone involved in Makkabi is too great given the brutal fighting around the Gaza Strip. Even football, everyone at Makkabi agrees, can only provide a little and not long-term distraction.
Broadcast: rbb24, October 15, 2023, 9:45 p.m
