In 1994, Maccabi Tel Aviv brought to Israel a 19-year-old Estonian talent named Martin Myursap.
Basketball fans in Israel were surprised by the move, especially in the era of two foreigners, but it soon became clear that the Yellows were trying to civilize the young player, thanks in part to a relationship he had with his Israeli partner Michal, with whom he later married.
The player stayed in Israel for about two years and trained with Maccabi Tel Aviv, but did not play in its ranks because he did not receive Israeli citizenship. He played a little at Maccabi South and also went through teams in the national league before leaving.
"At the time, there was a law that only two foreigners were allowed and Maccabi had foreigners who had played for it long enough and it was not possible to replace them," Myersap tells Israel Today in a special interview from Estonia.
"I trained with the graduates and I was also with the young team (Maccabi South, YM) and I was waiting for my opportunity because these were very important years for me.
I had a good time, but I wanted to play so we did not continue together.
I could not wait any longer until I received citizenship. "
Why did they not manage to get you citizenship?
"There are other people you need to ask these questions. I will not answer that."
Doron Jamchi. "Myersap does not forget him at all, Photo: Alan Schieber
What do you remember about your time in Israel?
"The first thing I learned is how to ask for 'chickpeas without parsley with mushrooms', I do not like parsley," he says in surprising Hebrew 25 years after leaving Israel, "I learned the language at the level of speaking, not reading and writing. I can say" I open The door and go into the office ", I remember some Hebrew. I want to learn more. I know numbers and can speak a little, I like everything related to Hebrew and hummus and tahini, like" right right, right, what does it sound like. "Sometimes I mix Hebrew with Greek but A few more trips to Israel, I will feel more comfortable with my Hebrew. "
And what are the professional experiences you remember?
"I remember the shooting practice with Doron Jamchi. He was unbelievably insane shooting. It was very special for me to train with players of his level."
Have you been following Israeli basketball in recent years?
"I do not watch every week, but I am always aware of what is happening and the teams that play in Europe. There has always been very smart basketball in Israel because Israelis are very smart, it has been like this since Nadav Hanfeld, Goodes and the rest of these guys. I always watch Maccabi Euroleague games, "They brought in a good coach who takes care of the chemistry in the team and they have good foreigners. Maccabi remained in my heart and I still love the Maccabi family."
Nadav Hanfeld.
Great appreciation from the former Estonian star
Are you in touch with people in Israel?
"Yes, definitely. I have some friends in Israel - Assaf Dotan, Lazy Gordon and of course Guy Goodes who I was happy to hear he accepted your team."
Precisely after he left Israel, his career took off.
He became the first (and only to date) Estonian to come to the NBA where he played for two years.
He then had a successful career in Russia and Greece with winning local and European titles, including winning with Kazan Euroflig when he defeated Marosi and Vasilis Spanoulis (who beat Hapoel Tel Aviv in the semi-finals) and was named the outstanding player. Later he also played one season at CSKA Moscow .
He then retired from basketball as he was considered one of the greatest Estonian basketball players of all time.
He currently coaches one of the teams in the local league.
"I was selected in the draft after the period in Israel. I liked what was in the NBA, but there was no going into rotation and there were times I was not happy there. I moved to Greece and then to Russia where I played at a very high level.
Overall, I had a good career and I am satisfied with it. "
"It will be a great game"
You are one of the only ones who managed to beat Spanoulis in the final of a European tournament.
"True, I got to meet great players throughout my career and then one of the games I remember. We had a very good team that invested a lot of money in it and I gave a great game. This title is one of the great things I got to be in."
In the 2004/5 season you played in CSKA and you only had one loss all season in the Euroleague until the semi-final against Tao Vitoria. How do you explain your collapse in that game?
"We were terrible, we were not in the game and it was not that we faced something we did not meet that year. Everything was uncomfortable for us, however, Maccabi fans were everywhere, even behind our bench. Everything was terrible. We missed so many shots and did not play well. That kind of thing happens in the Final Four, a lot of things can happen in the Final Four. "
Vasilis spanolis.
Memories from Martin, Photo: AP
Everyone was waiting for the final between Maccabi of Sharas and Parker and your team.
"We were hoping for it and we believed we could do it. It was at home and the game was close to May 1. So we wanted to march in Red Square with the European Cup. It is impossible to explain how a good shooting team like ours missed so much. Maybe the pressure was too great for us ".
In recent years there has been progress in basketball in Estonia.
Young talents are growing like Henry and Sar who plays at the Real Madrid academy and as he said in an interview with "Israel Today" in August dreams of being the second Estonian in history to come to the NBA.
The national team also shows good performance and in recent years has beaten quality teams like Israel and only three days ago also Germany.
"You can see players developing great. We have a league with a lot of young players, the management is good and for every position in the team there are a lot of good players so the future looks promising."
Madar.
"Israel has a good team", Photo: Oded Karni
Can Sar be your heir?
"He will be better than me. Everything is in his hands. He needs a good organization like Real or Maccabi to help him reach his potential. He will be a lottery pick in the coming years. He needs to be physically strong, stay healthy and he will be an incredible player. He is moving in shape. "Excellent and he has excellent technique. I believe he will reach the NBA and also be the main player in the Estonian team in the coming years."
How do you see the power relations between Israel and Estonia?
"We have a team that can play good basketball. Israel also has changes with the coach and new players, so I do not have a good answer to this question. I hope it will be a great game and that there will be no defeat for either side, that there will be a tough game and the good ones will win."
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