ARGENTINA'S WORLD CUP TEAM POWERED BY JEWS

Argentine soccer teamsports key Jewish members By Joe Goldman
BUENOS AIRES, June 18 (JTA) — A Jewish player is trying to help kick Argentina’s national team to a triumph in soccer’s World Cup, with help from the team’s Jewish coach.

Both the coach, Jose Pekerman, 56, and the player, Juan Pablo Sorin, 30, have their roots in the Buenos Aires-based club Argentinos Juniors, best known as the team where superstar Diego Maradona first honed his talent.

Adrian Stoppleman, an Argentine Jewish sportswriter, said, “In the past, Argentina has had a sprinkling of Jewish players in its local league. But to have two such key people like the coach and team captain being Jewish is truly an achievement to be proud of.”