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"I'm no less good than the players on the team." Israel today

2020-02-28T11:18:20.802Z


He was disappointed when Ketch cut him off the roster • Enjoyed fine gardens • And sure to advance to a large group • Interview with Yiftach Israeli Zochdorsel


He was disappointed that Ketch cut him off the roster ("Next time I will try to bring added value") • Enjoyed fine gardens ("My mother won the Iron Maiden") • And not afraid of a player-group stigma ("Believe I'll be in better places") • Interview with Yiftach Ziv

  • Yiftach Ziv. Not afraid to take the decisive shot

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Israeli basketball does not have many physical feats like Hapoel Gilboa / Galilee player Yiftach Ziv, which is hard to find in Israeli players such athletic abilities as his.

"First of all I will arrange for my parents," he says with a half smile. "They are both athletes. My mother ran marathons and won the Austrian Iron Maiden competition last summer. My father is also an athlete and excelled in gymnastics, so there is certainly a matter of genes here. A lot of hard work. I work with a personal trainer, athletic trainer, coordination coach and also individual work on muscle. Athletics and strength are my strong side and my advantage over other players, and I have to take advantage of them. "

Last summer, after two years in the city of Nahariya, Ziv tried to find a team in Europe, but eventually a call from Gilboa / Galil coach Lior Liubin, who made it clear that he saw him as a kind of leader in the new and young team built in a candle garden, convinced him. "It's not that I have too much experience, and I lack things I've experienced, but we have a lot of young and hungry players, and I feel like I'm the more experienced Israeli. It's a role I love."

Is this where you thought you were at this point in your career?

"I don't look at what could have been or where I could have been. I am in a place I love and good for. If you told me that at the age of 24 I would lead a team in the Premier League and be on the Israeli national team, I would buy it with two hands. For more, I believe that hard work and patience will pay off and that I will reach higher places. "

Professionally, what do you need to improve to make the progress you've talked about?

"Shooting. Less is going for me this year. It's something not as good for me as the rest and it's one of my highlights until the end of the season. Most of the goals I set at the beginning of the season will flourish, except for scoring. It's the last thing I will make a big leap forward. I work on that a lot. However, I can say that even if I miss a few shots, when the decisive shot comes, I can take it without hesitation or fear, because I believe in myself to hit it. "

"Want to play in Spain"

In one of the games this season, the TV cameras recorded a small incident between Ziv and Lyubin while the coach dropped the player to the bench after a mistake. Then rumors of tensions between the two were published, but the actor claimed no drop in the rumors. "It's something that really bothers me," he says, and it hurts him, "I've never had anything bad with Lior. He's just positive, he has a passion and a class, and it's very hard to quarrel with him. When he's angry he takes you into a conversation with four eyes and closes the story In the best way. I chose to ignore the publications because they are really wrong. "

Yiftach Ziv. "I am in a place I love" // Photo: Maor Alexa

Perhaps because of the high expectations and belief that he has high potential, occasional criticism of Ziv arises, especially from fans on social networks. "In today's era, what is written about you cannot be ignored," he admits. "I know what is written and what is being said. People can write and say things, and you can like it or not, but it is the world."

One criticism is that in recent years all the teams you played with have been at the bottom.

"You always aim to be in winning teams that come high, but it was a matter of situations. Of course I didn't want to be in bottom fights, but that's what came out. Bottom fights are a matter of character and pressure, and you build resilience and mentality. It's for the future. "

Aren't you afraid of stigmatization for being a bottom-line player?

"I have nothing to be afraid of. I believe that one good season, group and personal, will put me in a good position for the places I'm aiming for."

What places are you targeting?

"Europe. I really want to go to the Spanish league, where this is the basketball I love and where I want to be. I hope that in two to three years I will be a senior league in Europe, in a team that plays twice a week, in the Euro League or in the Eurocup."

"Maccabi? I heard rumors"

About a month and a half ago, Maccabi Tel Aviv searched for an Israeli player following the plague of injuries that landed on it, and in some media outlets it was reported that the yellows were trying to apportion Ziv. "The truth, I know nothing about it," he claims. "I heard the rumors from the media, but I didn't deal with it. . I'm in Gilboa and I'm very happy here. If I had to be somewhere else, then I would. It is impossible to know what will happen in the future. "



Disappointed last week's scenery from the varsity roster?

"It's always disappointing and not fun to be a leverage, especially at the last minute, but that's what the professional team decided. If they needed me I would be available to the team. I will always come to the team with my head up and having fun. I don't think I'm any better than those who remain on the roster and know I can contribute A lot, but apparently in the current situation it is less appropriate. Next time I will try to bring added value that will not be overlooked. I want to be on the championship roster in the summer of 2021 and do everything to be there. "

Source: israelhayom

All sports articles on 2020-02-28

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