The heads of the league want to continue the relationship with the Premier League • Gilboa / Galil, Galil Elyon and Hapoel Haifa are examining the possibility • The obstacle: the financial grants from the league administration
Gilboa / Galil.
Will you continue for another season at the factory?
Photo:
Alan Shiver
Next Tuesday (April 27) the Balkan League Final Four event for the 2020/21 season will begin at the Toto Hall in Holon, when in the main game Hapoel Holon will meet Hapoel Gilboa / Galil (20:00) and in the early game they will face the Bulgarian Roa and Academic Plovdiv (17:30).
The final will be held two days later.
The idea was born in October, when the heads of the league's administration were looking for a solution that would allow teams to train and play during the second closure following the Corona virus that raged in Israel in those days, and according to industry executives, joining the Balkan league actually saved the season.
Now it turns out that this is not a transient phenomenon, but it is possible that next season we will also see Israeli teams competing in the factory.
"Israel Today" has learned for the first time that the league's chairman, former Israeli referee Shai Strix, is interested in having at least two Israeli teams play in the league in the 2021/22 season as well.
One of the leading teams that may continue in the Balkans is Hapoel Gilboa / Galil.
The owners of the club, Haim Ohayon, are pleased with the journey made by its players this season and the additional minutes of the game that the Israeli players received, especially the young ones.
Other teams such as Hapoel Haifa, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Ness Ziona also examined the possibility, the latter two raising this as an option if it turns out that they will not be able to join the European Cup.
Another team that may join is Hapoel Galil Elyon from the national league, which is considering playing in two frames even if it does not qualify for the Premier League.
The Israeli teams raised the issue of rival quality with Strix and asked him to work to add 3-2 quality teams to raise the professional level.
It is estimated that Trix will use Israelis to persuade groups from Montenegro and other countries in the region to join as well.
However, the main problem is the financial grants coming from the League Administration for participation in Europe.
According to the regulations, a team that participates in a European factory (except for Maccabi Tel Aviv, which plays in the Euroleague), receives NIS 50,000 per game from the administration.
At present, the administration clarifies that they are not able to pay the same amount for games in the Balkan framework, but efforts are being made to find financial sources to help with lower amounts.
For example, payments only for away games and reimbursement of additional expenses.
Strix made it clear to the teams that he would minimize overseas travel, and make sure that on any such trip the teams would hold a few games within a few days to save costs.
The success of Ness Ziona in the European Cup, as well as the possible victory of one of the Israeli women in the Balkans next week, will probably convince as many Israeli teams as possible to take part in the various European frameworks.
