Thirty years ago, he made the arduous journey from Ethiopia to Israel. • In 2007, he joined the Bnei Yitzhalal team, a community football project. Haim Chana Marotel's amazing project was not missed either

• Bnei Yitzhalal Group. From dreams of immigration to dreams of survival

  Photo: 

  Courtesy of Bnei Yitzhalel

I am sitting in front of Haim Chana Marotel, chairman of Bnei Yitzhalel, the Ethiopian Football Association, and I do not know what I should do first: take off his hat on the great journey he made in his 36 years, or share his grief over it. C. league football club, Central district is on the verge of extinction due to economic reasons, especially because of the crisis corona damn closing valves and hope.

this week, following the announcement of Hapoel Katamon the renaming Hapoel Jerusalem, recalls brutal game of the Itz'lal life today. it happened A decade ago, in the second round of the state cup against the same Katamon. "We had a lot of anger towards Katamon, who did not agree to postpone the game after two members of the community died that week," says Chana, "We won them 3: 4, even though we played in This was the first season of Bnei Yitzhalel in the second division, where it survived nine consecutive seasons, until two seasons ago it was relegated to the third division.

The word Yitzhal in Amharic means anything is possible, and this is well represented by Rutel, one of 10 brothers who 30 years ago made an aliyah through Gondar, Addis Ababa, and a stopover in Italy - all the way to Israel. His family has lost two more brothers in Ethiopia, not to mention the fourth brother Darja, who arrived on foot not through Sudan after being forced to hide his identity and disguise himself as a Muslim. Eventually he reached an absorption center in Kfar Saba, and Haim Chana settled in the Milchen neighborhood of Rehovot.

Bnei Yitzhalal was established 20 years ago and emphasizes the strengthening and empowerment of children and youth through football, basketball and athletics activities. The center of power was in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of Rehovot, which was once a neighborhood of Holocaust survivors and today is mostly populated by Ethiopians. The motto of the heads of this project is sharp and with a clear message - the people of Ethiopia do not lower their heads. They want an opportunity like everyone else in this country.

Haim Chana is rotten. there's hope

The last football season, which was interrupted due to the corona virus, ended painfully for Bnei Yitzhalel despite a great season (18 wins and only three losses in 25 games) and fourth place, only four points less than Betar Ashdod, which was promoted to the second division. The team to the peak of fitness, including a huge 0: 6 over MS Rishon LeZion. In the 19th round, in the season game, away against Betar Ashdod, Bnei Yitzhalal already led 0: 2, but the end result was a frustrating 2: 2 draw.

The high earner:

Ruttal Travel Reimbursement is an inspirational model, not just for the Ethiopian community, but for all of us. He has been an industrial and management engineer at Elbit Systems for four years. He initially debated whether to pursue a military career (he was a major in the Navy), but when promotion to major was delayed, he turned to a civilian career. His wife Tadila studied business administration and works for an insurance company. They have two children, Eitan and Noga.

Apart from good cooperation with the Rehovot Municipality and the sports portfolio holder in the city, Roi Sharabi, who supports (about NIS 150,000 a year) - all the taps are closed and there is no support for the club, not even from the sports director who does not transfer money because there is no state budget.

The educational assistance for children was also cut off due to a lack of cash, but Marotel thinks that the principle of the football school, which has 50 teenagers aged 11-6, still needs to charge the families of children 1,500 shekels per season, not only to keep the club. The child invests more and appreciates the money paid for it.

Bnei Yitzhalal is in real existential danger ahead of the start of the 2020/21 season in about a month and a half, and even ahead of the start of training on September 7. It needs about 450,000 shekels per season to own the entire system, when in practice it is guaranteed less than half the amount.

Bnei Yitzhalel's children's group // Photo: Courtesy of Bnei Yitzhalel

About two years ago, Marotel made a donation of NIS 175,000 from a philanthropist who was looking for a needy organization, and the money really passed. But two years have passed since then, and the money has of course run out. As for the players, they all play almost voluntarily, except for the refunds they receive for travel. The average repayment is NIS 2,500 per month. The "rich" receive NIS 3,300.

The football season on the way is going to be difficult all over the world, even here, and especially at the Bnei Yitzhalel football club. But unlike other places in the country, for which they will make all the necessary adjustments - the Bnei Yitzhalel do not have this privilege. They just won't be anymore.

aviadp65@gmail.com