"Rising to the top house is an achievement no less great than winning the cup. We are with the lowest budget in the league."
This is how Bnei Herzliya coach Oren Aharoni opens the special interview he gave to "Israel Today", and explains: "The league is the strongest season in recent years. Teams invest big money in strengthening. Despite this, we succeed thanks to stability, character and good basketball."
The 48-year-old coach, who will meet Hapoel B'Shlosha tonight (19:00) with his team in the Conch Hall, is one of the leading candidates for the title of coach of the season - and not just because of the amazing victory in the state cup.
You have two of the most prominent foreigners in the league.
"It's true. They are dominant and impressive, and both have special personalities. They are leaders. Eldad Akunis tried a year ago to bring in Chinano Onoako, but it did not work out. With Chris Bab we were also lucky that he was left without a team until a late stage."
Aharoni adds an interesting story about the star of winning the trophy: "Before the cup final he received an offer from the Euroleague (probably from Basconia; SS), but rejected it and said 'I started something here - and I will stay until the end'.
He did not tell us about it at all, and did so only after the trophy was hoisted.
Many players in his situation would snatch such an offer.
Onoako is a wonderful personality, and a club like Herzliya knows how to embrace and maintain such players. "
Aharoni.
"Two years at the club as Dan Shamir's assistant helped me learn a lot," Photo: Alan Shiber
What is it like working with a dominant chairman like Eldad Akunis?
"Two years at the club as Dan Shamir's assistant helped me learn a lot. No one is perfect, but Eldad's contribution is enormous. We have a good and fruitful dialogue. I am in favor of hearing criticism and not afraid of it."
Your credit for success?
"A lot of good people share this success. I don't like to talk about myself because I believe in teamwork. I'm proud of the way we did and this season. I have confidence in what I do. If we achieved things, I probably did well. Winning the trophy was a great, crazy feeling. "Huge joy. When we reached the semi-finals, no one really took us seriously."
Onoaku.
Surprising offer before the cup final, Photo: Alan Shiber
Spending one season 15 years ago, it can be said that only at the age of 48 are you coaching for the first time in the Premier League.
"Everyone has their own way. I really enjoyed the journey in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was a good and right place for me, with great work. I did not burn anything, I did not feel like I was missing anything."
They were all his sons
For Aharoni, the league games are defined as "everyone was his son": "I meet with the rivalry many players who played for me, and that's pride. Idan Zalmanson, Nimrod Levy, Idan Alber, Itai Segev, Amit Ziss. There are those who do not play here, like Yuval Sussman And Danny Abdia, who could be even better in the NBA.
"Even when he was in seventh grade, I saw him in Herzliya and I was convinced by a million percent that something big would come out of him. He is modest, with his feet on the ground, and showed that he knows how to cope despite the crises. ".
Danny Abdia vs. Detroit.
Ethel Aharoni also passed, Photo: AP
For a decade, Aharoni worked in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv. There were training offers along the way, and there was also the question of joining the professional team of the senior team: "This is not something I thought about.
My worldview is to do your job best and not look to the sides. "
You are very serious and restrained.
"I'm not one to go out of their way, neither in wins nor in losses. I believe in a focused approach, in proportions and not getting carried away. Always with my feet on the ground."
Aharoni coached his son Amit (currently an Elitzur Netanya player from the national league) in Maccabi's youth, as well as in the cadet and youth teams, and soon also in the reserve: "This is a boy who grew up in a sports home, with sports values.
"It's fun to coach him. It's not easy, but we found the way. I'm his biggest critic and also his biggest supporter. The Premier League? He's a big kid, he will decide for himself. Before this season he had offers, but he decided to continue in Netanya."
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