The big explosion with coach Stefanos Dadas • The injuries that pushed him out of the rotation • Ignoring him in the semi-finals of the National Cup • and the feelings of frustration he told his surroundings: "I have been healthy for two months, but I am humiliated here" • All the reasons for parting
Yogev Ohayon
Photo:
Oded Karni
The first training session after the return of Hapoel Holon from the surprising victory in Izmir (76:77) over Karshiaka, was conducted in a good atmosphere and with smiles.
But in the middle of training, a loud argument began to develop between coach Stefanos Dadas and Yogev Ohayon.
Dadas' anger burned in him and he roared at Ohayon to get out of training.
Ohayon was hurt by the coach's attitude towards him, but after a few minutes he relented, took a shower and made his way home.
The next day, instead of coming to practice, Ohayon went on a Sabbath and Seder holiday with his family in the north.
In the following days, compromise attempts were made to bring Ohayon back, and a source in the group defined him as "a personality you want to see in the locker room," but both sides refused to come down from the tall tree.
Quite a few fires between Dadas and the players were extinguished in the management, but this one no longer had fire extinguishers.
Ohayon also came to the team games at home against BS and Balkan but was not allowed to dress by Dads.
When the management realized that there was no way back, the conditions for Ohayon's release were closed (salary without bonuses until the end of the season), and yesterday, on his 34th birthday, the Holon management issued a statement stating: "We thank Yogev for his contribution and wish him success in the future."
At the beginning of the season things looked completely different.
Dadas built on Ohayon as the first quarterback, and the foreigners he brought in - Tyros Maggie and C.J. Harris - were destined to play more as No. 2 alongside Ohayon.
In an extensive interview with the Makor Rishon newspaper on the eve of the season opener, he received a lot of compliments for Dadas: "A very light-hearted and fun person. A great coach who takes the job easily. Lives the game with good instincts and knows exactly what he wants from his players."
Indeed Ohayon started the season as first baseman and looked good.
But on October 21, at the Balkan League game in Eilat, there was a twist in the plot.
Ohayon was badly injured in the ankle and was disabled for a month.
When he returned to the home loss to Krasnoyarsk (79:69) Ohayon felt pain again and it turned out that he returned too soon.
Closing a circle in the Galilee?
After another two months on the sidelines, when Ohayon returned, he saw that the coordinator's position was completely filled: Harris and Maggie took the reins and from the bench Dadas brought up Oded Brandwein and Niv Misgav who was brought from Nahariya.
Ohayon played in several league games, but in the Cup semifinals - when Maccabi Tel Aviv pressed at the end and erased a gap of 17 points six minutes before the end, and was asked to share a coordinator - Dadas completely ignored.
As a form of compensation, Dadas put Ohayon in the top five against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the league three days later. But the center looked rusty and off, and again lost the trust of his coach following the defeat. In Skopje's victory over Komanovo, but in the Champions League he continued to sit on the bench, even though Ohayon looked good in training and already felt frustrated.
"I've been feeling well and healthy for two months now, but I'm being humiliated here," Ohayon told those around him.
According to a source in the Holon management, Dads and senior members of the club suggested that Ohayon look for another group in mid-March.
"Brandwein and Misgav can only give five minutes and Ohayon needs more minutes to make an impact," the club said.
The same source further claims that Dadas told Ohayon that "leaving you on the team when you are on the bench and the camera is focusing on you, and you are not playing - it is not good for anyone."
The coordinator for his part claimed he feels good and able to contribute but "feels he is not part of the team, and a sense of disrespect".
Yesterday there was already speculation about the continuation of the coordinator's career.
Some claimed that he might return to Hapoel Jerusalem (which will be separated from Tamir Blatt this summer) and some are fantasizing about closing the circle - the Upper Galilee will be promoted to the Premier League and Ohayon will return to his quarry.
Yesterday in the Champions League: Hapoel Holon - Topash Bursa 90:71.