The pressure from Holon fans led to the release of Latavius ​​Williams, and nine days after he also sent the coach to pack his belongings • His replacement expects quite a bit of work, and perhaps the most important task of all: saving the club

• Drucker. No mistake, and paid the price

  Photography:

  Bernie Ardov

• The purple crowd pressure worked

  Photography:

  Bernie Ardov

The thought of dismissing Sharon Drucker from Hapoel Holon began after the impeachment of the National Cup by Urban Nahariya, but strangely it was strengthened precisely after the league victory over that Nahariya (95: 109). The Purple, by the way, demonstrated a wonderful offensive flux in the first half and scored no less than 66 points. The stressed-out face of anyone behind Drucker's back - after the gap dropped from the 25th differential to just the 10th zone - made him somewhat at peace at the end of the game.

"What is amazing here is that we have now won. The difference has not dropped below 10, and still the feeling is not good - it is something that needs to be corrected. In the system, in the management, in the players, in the coaches, in everything. Because even though we have won, I will now enter the locker room with a bad feeling." Drucker said after the game in Ein Sara, and when interviewer Omri Mannheim asked to come to an end about his satisfaction, Drucker dismissed: "Because that's the nature. People are not happy with what it is now," the coach replied. Holon management got angry - and not for the first time this season - about Drucker who publicly criticized them.

To the beholder from the side, it seems surprising that Drucker usually compliments the management. But after a week of fighting for the retention of Latavius ​​Williams (the management succumbed to the pressure of the crowd and released him), Drucker is also under pressure and impatience. But while he worked on the landing of Angel Delgado from Puerto Rico in place of Williams, the grocer had already left the sack in management.

Drucker had to settle for Howell // Photo: Bernie Ardov

They contacted Greek coach Ilyas Zoros, who was a summer candidate, and fumbled about his desire to come to Israel after being fired from Priestri last week. As far as Drucker is concerned, this was another small straw, and he would have to pack the small suitcase as well. Indeed, this straw came earlier than expected.

The loss to the Lithuanian Lightbliss in the Champions League, in a game they marked Holon as a win, led to a dive. "How did we lose to a group of 40-year-olds?" They concluded, "We seemed completely powerless." The coach's associates have labeled some Israeli players in the team who did not play well in Lithuania as having pushed Drucker's submarine into the abyss.

Nine days a word

Drucker is not free of mistakes. Holon was in need of regret this summer, and the thought that, like in Eilat (Avi Ben Shimul), a senior Israeli coordinator (Yogev Ohayon) would lead a talented Rockies team was shattered by the first month. A team that plays in Europe needs two - even three - coordinators / decision makers / ball leaders. After refusing to accept Tyler Rochesty and Joe Alexander, Drucker had to settle for Richard Howell, who arranged for him a win in Beersheba.

Drucker, who is always trying to get Passon's patience and patience, has arrived at the opposite: a demanding crowd of $ 5-4 million has to win every game and voices his voice almost every moment, which permeates the club's management.

Holon looks powerless // Photo: Oded Karni

Last week, the team's fans demanded Williams' immediate release after confronting them. The management dragged their feet, which increased the crowd pressure. "We are making decisions at our own pace," owner Shlomo Isaac promised 48 hours after the incident, but only 24 hours passed and the pressure was already done. Drucker also "did not come well in the eyes of the audience". Nine days after Williams, he also went home. "The street victory," defined it as a past factor in the club.

Objective: Leave Shlomo Isaac

The next coach to come to Holon has a dual mission: to save what's left of this season (Final Four in the league with prestigious victories over Maccabi and Hapoel Jerusalem and qualify for the next stage in the FIBA ​​Champions League), and essentially make Isaac owner stay in the team at the end of the season. "Isaac is discouraged, professionally and financially. At the end of the season, all options are open: down to the level of sponsor only or even general abandonment," a club official said this week.

If such a thing happens, Holon will miss the days when they led the Champions League in percent of the field and three and spent second in offensive power (about 90 points per game).

Isaac will leave at the end of the season? // Photo: Oded Karni