One of the significant moves in the Israeli player market last summer was the transfer of Idan Zalmanson from Hapoel Jerusalem to Hapoel Tel Aviv. The impressive Danny Franco built for the new season.
"I got to play a lot against Hapoel over the years, and now I'm very excited to play for it. I'm a player who feeds on energy, so it was a simple decision for me," Zalmanson said in a special interview with Israel Today, explaining why he chose reds rather than offers. The others who faced him.
"In conversations with Hapoel's people during the negotiations, we talked about having something here for a few years, and for me it's a challenge to do something big with the team this year and bring Hapoel to Europe next season. We all in the team want to do it. Besides, my father grew up here as well. He played a bit in the seniors before retiring, so all the girls I heard stories about what it's like to play in practice. "
How do you sum up your time in Jerusalem?
"I had a good time there. In the first season we also had good successes, but in the second year something went wrong, and from the moment Oded Katsh left for Panathinaikos everything crashed. There was a lot of desire from the players, but it just didn't work."
Photo: Danny Maron,
Are you offended that they preferred not to continue with you and bring another Israeli player in your place?
"No. After a season of not succeeding, things have to be reorganized. Even personally, after a very difficult season I felt a kind of exhaustion, and I think this separation will do good for both sides. With me Segev is an excellent player who can help them. In sports you do not stay all your life In the same group, so as soon as the offer from Hapoel came to me, I did not think twice, and I took it. "
Not yellow for a long time
A lot of players have been going to Europe in the last few years, have you thought about that too?
"I tested this option in the summer, but the market there is slower than in Israel. When I get an offer from a place I want to be - and Hapoel Tel Aviv is a place I want to be - I do not wait for other options."
You grew up in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv and played a bit in the seniors there, what is it like to play for the city rival?
"It's been a long time since. I remember getting excited from the first time I went up to the seniors, and I got to learn from great players who were with me on the team there, but now I'm red and nothing else is interesting."
You belonged to Maccabi contractually until last summer, and there were also rumors that you might play there. But in the end they brought in other high-ranking Israelis, and you went to Hapoel.
"I was looking for a place where I could be significant, and a group where I could express all my abilities. That's the most important thing for me. I'm 26, and it's important for me to be very dominant and progress from year to year, and I think Hapoel Tel Aviv is the best place for me to continue. The trend of improvement.
I would not have made a different decision even if I had an offer from Maccabi on the table. "
Photo: Udi Citation,
"We are building a winning team here"
Looking at the squad that will play this year at the Shlomo Team Hall, and including names like Jacoben Brown, James Young, JP Tokoto, Bar Timor and of course Zalmanson, one can understand why the fans, as well as some commentators, say that on paper this is the best team of The club since its inception.
In the locker room hang all the degrees the team has won in history, and there is one place available for the next degree.
Zalmanson says the actors talk to each other about the possibility of doing something memorable.
"Bar (Timur; YM) organized most things here in the summer, and made sure to bring in the players," the chin reveals with a smile.
I know from experience that getting a degree is not easy at all, and requires a lot of ability and also luck.
I believe we can do something great, we have the potential to do a season of degree and fight for everything.
It would just be crazy if we won the title for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Timur.
Make sure to bring the actors, Danny Maron