Signature in Eilat: "I believed the opportunity in the Premier League is waiting for me" • Father Mike's relationship: "'Crazy' is a name that suits him" This is something I really want. ”• Special interview with Ben Carter

• Carter. Want to be like dad

  Photo: 

  Hapoel Eilat

Quietly and quietly, Hapoel Eilat took advantage of the Corona window for a significant move in the local player market when it joined Ben Carter, one of the best Israelis in the National League in the past year.

"I am very excited," he admits, "I worked hard for the opportunity, and it came to me on time. I am in a good situation, the people in Eilat believe in me and I see myself progressing from here. On the way up. I hope this is the beginning of my success. "

Carter has already played for a short period in the Premier League when he signed Hapoel Jerusalem in March 2018, but after five months was notified that he was not in the plans. "Jerusalem treated me very well and gave me a chance, but at that point I didn't feel it was the right place for me to grow and grow as I wanted to. I was looking for a place where I would get a bigger opportunity than Jerusalem. He is one of the best coaches in Israel if not the best of them, and of course I see myself coming back there in the future. "

Action. "I believed the opportunity was waiting for me" // Photo: Hapoel Eilat 

After leaving Jerusalem, Carter came to Hapoel Afula from the Second League. In 2018/19, he was injured a full season, and the season remained healthy and showed his high abilities. According to him, during this period he did not think for a moment that did not fit into the Premier League: "It was never a matter of ability, but what I wanted for my career at the time. I believed the opportunity in the first league was waiting for me, and I was just waiting for the coach and the team to give me the stage. "

Players all over the world were afraid to go back because of the Corona, didn't you?

"Justified with fear, but I checked the issue and so I'm not worried. I just wanted to get back in the right situation for me. I'm already waiting to get back to doing what I love, and in America I can't do it. In fact, in Israel very safe now, probably one of the safest places In the world. "

"Want to be like dad"

Carter's 2.03 (25m) son is the son of "crazy" Mike Carter, who played in Israel in the 1980s and 1990s, was primarily associated with Hapoel Holon and married to an Israeli. "Sometimes I don't tell people my dad's name," Carter Jr. says, "I just tell them 'crazy' and that's enough. It's really a good name for him, on and off the pitch. He always knows how to make people happy.

"You know his nickname is not only known in Israel? Just before our conversation I spoke to an Israeli from Las Vegas, I told him about my dad and he went crazy. It shows the passion between my dad and fans and how much they loved him. My dad was the one who taught me basketball from an early age and worked hard to be a role model for me and for my brother, I want to be like him. "

About his special relationship with his father, Ben says: "In childhood, my dad invested everything so I could go to the U.K. He would sit outside and tell me how much I scored. As I grew up, he told me about Israel and the mentality here, and how important it is to show everyone that you Investor for them. My coup as a professional basketball player and coming to Israel - everything comes from him. "

Carter says parents are also worried about his future, and only recently did he and his brother Tim open a cafe in Las Vegas, where they live. Tim, who recently finished his basketball career, will run the venue, and the profits will be split between the two. "I've officially become a businessman," he says with a smile, "we'll make it a family business."

Carter. "Glad to have everything Israel has to offer" // Photo: Raz Galil, League Director 

What is your mother's effect on your life?

“I like to say we are lucky to have one smart side in the family (laughs, JM). I really feel her sorrow for not having this interview in Hebrew with you. "

What's really happening with your Hebrew?

"My Hebrew is getting better. In the first year I spent more time training, but in the last year I decided I wanted to learn the language. My family wants me to work on it because I won't be Israeli until I speak Hebrew like English."

What happens when you get to play in Holon?

"I know my dad has had a great career in Holon and that means a lot to him, but for me I will just end up playing basketball without background noise. I know there will be a good atmosphere and they will probably encourage my dad and not me."

Carter hovers. "It would be strange if I was not considered an Israeli" // Photo: Raz Galil, League Director 

During the conversation you can feel that Carter is very connected to Israel, but on the other hand strives to get as far as possible in his career. "The truth is that I love Israel, enjoy the time here and really happy to reconnect to my roots. I also have a lot of family here (from his Israeli mother, Hadar, YM) and fun to see them. I am happy for everything Israel has to offer, like culture and food. I want to be a serious part of the high levels of the game, but if I end up showing that I've played my entire career in Israel only - I'll be happy. "

Do you want to play on the Israeli team?

"Yes, of course, it was one of my dreams when I was growing up in America. I have always been proud to represent Israel to people and this is a chance I want to give myself.

How about the new Citizenship Law, which is supposed to restrict the arrival of Jewish actors from abroad?

"It would be strange if I was not considered an Israeli by anything. I think the people in Israel do not know or understand how much these years in the country have a positive impact on players like me, and how much influence they have afterwards in the places they go."