While football dealt last week with the last moments of the transfer window and foreigners who come and go, we also got a significant and shiny signing in volleyball, when the women's volleyball team of Hapoel Kfar Saba was joined by the Mexican Karina Florence Games.
Florence (24), who rises to a height of 1.87 meters and plays in the blocking position in the middle, is a leading player in the Mexican team.
Until now, she played in colleges in the United States and in the first league in Portugal in the Abs team, with which she participated in the European enterprise. She has now landed in the Holy Land, to be the first Mexican to play in Israel.
From a young age Florence stood out at a height that was above average, and at the age of 13 she decided she wanted to take advantage of this to her advantage.
She tried to play basketball, but did not fit in because of the physical contact, which caused her many knee injuries.
So she decided to try volleyball.
"Right when I got on the field, I knew it was my profession," Florence tells Israel Today.
"I knew I was tall, and I also wanted to lose some weight, and volleyball suited me best. I really enjoy training, and even more playing."
Why did you choose to come to Israel?
"I wanted to improve my game, and my manager knows the coach and players on the team, and he recommended me to come to Israel. I came from the first league in Portugal, but it was only the first step for me. Right when I heard about the offer I said - this is my luck."
What is it like to be so far from home?
"It's getting easier. Even in my first two years of volleyball I played in a town three hours from my house, and lived in an apartment with other young players. My mom only came to visit me once every two weeks. When I was little the internet was really slow, and we had no smartphones. Now "Everything is different. I can talk to the family whenever I want, and you can see them on video - my sister, my nephews. That's how I keep in touch with friends from home."
Florence Gamz.
Dreaming of the Olympics, adapting to Kfar Saba, Photo: Udi Citiat
What did you know about Israel before you arrived?
"I knew about the conflict with the Arabs, and that the United States is helping Israel.
But in this whole issue it is mainly a matter of conflict between governments.
The residents themselves want to live quietly, and I am very well off here and I have not encountered any problems so far. "
How were you received in the group?
"Really good, better than expected. They are so open, and that's what I like here. Open to new people, to a new culture. You can integrate really well, also because they speak several languages. Even when I was in Portugal I learned some Portuguese, and I already knew English and Spanish. Trying to learn some Hebrew, and knowing a few words like hello, good morning, thank you. "
Do you have superstitions that you believe in?
"I don't have much, but I try to keep my hair tidy before games. If I go into the locker room and it's not tidy, I feel something strange and sometimes I do not feel well in the game."
What do you think about Israeli volleyball?
"Strong, I like games like that, with strong submissions. For me it's a good opportunity to get better and raise my level. It's like players in the show will get a more lead role. That way they will raise their level, and the show will be better."
How was the level for the nation of Mexico and other countries in which you played?
"It's hard to compare, because in Mexico I'm on the team and playing against other countries and that also depends on the tournament. There are tournaments we were in games against Russia and the US, at the highest level and there are tournaments like we had in the Caribbean, at a lower level."
Hapoel Kfar Saba in the Challenge Cup in December, Photo: Yossi Zarof
Would you recommend a young girl to practice and play volleyball?
"Obviously I would recommend that you can learn a lot from volleyball. It's an amazing sport to make friends, improve communication, improve many social skills and showcase your skills. I feel it's a sport that fills your mind. True, not everyone will be a professional, but you have to try, as you get to Hollywood "And you will not always be the best player in the world. You can enjoy volleyball very much. In what other industry can you scream like that?"
Do you have any message for the group's fans?
"I want to say I'm grateful for the opportunity they gave me. Although sometimes those opportunities can be short, you do not know what's going to happen at the end of the summer season. But right now I feel it's the right time with the right people and the whole community makes me feel that way."
Where will KPS finish the season?
"We are doing well so far, but there is time for everything to end in May. There are many more games. We also missed a few games because of the Corona, so we have to complete them. I hope that in the upcoming games, and especially the important game against Haifa, we will do well."
What's your big dream?
"I have a lot of plans. I want to come with the team to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. So I also came here this year. The team can be ready, because we have a new generation of players who mostly play overseas and can achieve it. It was a dream when I was a girl to play volleyball .
One of Florence's biggest tests will come today, when her team Hapoel Kfar Saba makes a great effort to keep all the titles, and on the way there is the hurdle of Maccabi Haifa.
Coach Elad Shpagt said ahead of the game: "Hapoel Kfar Saba against Maccabi Haifa is a game that every sports fan will not want to lose. I watch a game at a high level, and call on sports fans in Kfar Saba and the Sharon area to come to the game and enjoy the volleyball experience. "We will try to disrupt it with a strong refusal and a correct block. We come with the goal of winning."
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