Hapoel Jerusalem is getting used to the new coach • Halperin: "He is at a point in his career before winning titles, we felt he was the right man" • Harel: "We did not change anything in our goals"
Edomites, yesterday in the journey in which he was introduced. In the capital, it is believed
Photography:
Oren Ben Hakon
Hapoel Jerusalem is slowly getting used to the new era under Lithuanian coach Dainius Adomitis.
Yesterday (Thursday) the coach first met his new players while they were doing recovery and stretching training and then came in with his team to prepare for the game against Maccabi Rishon Lezion on Sunday.
Sports director Yotam Halperin, who coordinated some of the tests and searches for the coach, explained the choice of Adomitis: "It was a very fast process, usually there is the summer or season to prepare and here suddenly one morning it fell on us that Oded Katash left.
We have lists of optional coaches who have been jobless and available in the market.
We made a lot of zoom calls and a lot of phone calls, we consulted with players and senior people and in the end we made the decision.
We went with the heart.
"Adomitis has a very big advantage for us because we think he can continue with us for a few years."
On the fact that the Lithuanian has not won many titles in his coaching career so far, Halperin added: "There is no doubt that he does not have a 20-30 year career in senior teams, but I think he is at a point in his career before winning the titles.
I do think he has basketball and he has the right attitude.
To be the coach of a Lithuanian national team, with big stars, is to know how to adapt to such players and work with them.
It is clear that the primary goal of Hapoel Jerusalem is to take degrees, but the bigger goal is really to see a way, because the path at the end will lead us to places where we will compete for degrees.
We felt he was the right person to lead this path with a vision for the future. "
CEO Guy Harel said of the talks with Oded Katash who asked to leave: "At first we were very clear and told him we were not releasing him, but as soon as we realized he had decided he was leaving we had to respond quickly and we moved to the practical side."
"Hapoel Jerusalem should not set goals, because our goals are clear," Harel said of the goals set for the new coach. "We should not raise expectations or lower expectations. This is a team that has won 6-7 titles in the last five years and it is clear what our goals are. "With Adumatis, we have not changed anything in terms of degrees and goals. The only thing that has changed for him is that in Europe things do not depend only on us."