2008 All-IFL TEAM INTRODUCED
The Israel Football League Commissioner’s office yesterday released the members of the first ever All-IFL team.
“The inaugural FieldTurf-IFL Israel Bowl is a major achievement for our league. At the same time, we are also excited about many of the outstanding accomplishments made by individual players over the course of the season,” commissioner Eric Amkraut exclaimed.
“The performances of these individuals have set a high standard for the 2008-09 season, not only for our returning veterans but also for the many new players we look forward to welcoming to the league.”
In addition to league officials, coaches and team captains had input in the selection process. The closest voting was for league MVP honors. The award went to Big Blue Jerusalem running back Moshe Horowitz, who led the IFL in touchdowns with 16 and in all-purpose yards with 705 yards on the season. He narrowly edged out Real Housing Haifa’s Niv Medlinger for the top individual prize. Additionally, the IFL recognized its most improved player on the season. Real Housing Haifa lineman Erez Kaminski received this award, with the committee having noted his steady improvement over the course of the season on both sides of the ball.
Almost as impressive was the development of the Big Blue Jerusalem Linebacker and Running Back Marwan Simaan, runner-up to Kaminski for this award. The Nazareth native went from being a rarely used substitute at the season’s outset to one of the team’s most reliable lead blockers and an anchor of the linebacking unit during a stretch when the team’s defensive captain, Yonah Mishaan, was out due to injury.
Rounding out the starting lineup were, on offense, Aryeh Bauman, Lior Subotnik, Ben Friedman, Avigdor Moore, Yoni Lehrer, Liran Hovav and Ben Gross. The defense unit was anchored by Big Blue’s Mishaan and included Ben Lemberg, Itamar Levin, Idan Maor, Josh Klein, Mike Levy, Omer Kedmi and Gai Van Straten. Making the squad on special teams were Shy Hasan, Eli Patael and Adam Lemberg.
The second team was comprised of Adi Hakami, Medlinger, Levy, Dori Reichmann, Asher Meckler, Maor, Shachar Yeshurun, and Amit Benvenisti on offense; Moore, Raphael Bloom, Yaniv Yaron, Medlinger, Asaf Katz, Shmuel O’Neil, Uri Schiff and Dagan Sadrinas on defense; and Ori Shterenbach, Medlinger and Daniel Gev on special teams.
The IFL will wrap up its inaugural season on Friday, March 28, 2008 with a season-ending doubleheader. Dancing Camel HaSharon takes on Mike’s Place Tel Aviv at 10:00 am in a battle for 3rd place. That game will be followed by Big Blue Jerusalem versus Real Housing Haifa in the Championship game, the FieldTurf-IFL Israel Bowl, at 1:00 pm. Both games will be played at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem.
Others receiving votes:
OFFENSE: Big Blue Jerusalem – Gai Van Straten (WR), Jon Hauser (C), Ben Lemberg (OL), Ari Gershon (OL), Yonah Mishaan (TE); Dancing Camel HaSharon – Shmuel O’Neil (RB), Rephael Bloom (WR), Yonatan Yifat (OL); Mike’s Place Tel Aviv – Tomer Sanikin (C), Omri Sha’anan (OL) Daniel Gev (RB), Baruch Malewich (OL); Real Housing Haifa – Igal Schneider (OL), Omer Kedmi (WR), Erez Kaminski (OL)
DEFENSE: Big Blue Jerusalem – Asher Meckler (DL), Adam Lemberg (OLB), Michael Amzalag (DB), Greg Tepper (LB); Dancing Camel HaSharon – Ben Gross (DB), Uri Heiman (MLB), Itai Katz (OLB); Mike’s Place Tel Aviv – Amit Benvenisti (DB), Raviv Faig (DE), Eli Patael (DB); Real Housing Haifa – Losha Ivlev (DL), Shachar Yeshurun (DB), Ben Friedman (DL)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Dancing Camel HaSharon – Mike Levy (RET), Shmuel O’Neil (RET), Shy Hasan (P); Mike’s Place Tel Aviv – Eli Patael (K); Real Housing Haifa – Arbel Rom (RET), Niv Medlinger (K)
MVP: Big Blue Jerusalem – Aryeh Bauman, Yonah Mishaan; Dancing Camel HaSharon – Shmuel O’Neil; Mike’s Place Tel Aviv – Raviv Faig; Real Housing Haifa – Niv Medlinger, Idan Maor
MIP: Big Blue Jerusalem – Marwan Simaan; Dancing Camel HaSharon – Amir Asaelov; Mike’s Place Tel Aviv – Roi Yair
