Roi Berkowitz, a former Israeli basketball player and the son of former legend Mickey Berkowitz.
He grew up in the youth department of AS Ramat Hasharon and also played in the youth teams.
He started his alumni career in Elitzur Ashkelon and then played in Ramat Hasharon for its various incarnations, moving to Cyprus and the Netherlands where he won the championship and the cup.
He then returned to Israel and played for Maccabi Givat Shmuel before retiring at the age of 27 due to injuries.
In the previous decade he managed AS Ramat Hasharon and also Elitzur Ashkelon, and in recent years he owns and manages Atletio-Sport together with his partner Perry Levy who specializes in importing, manufacturing and installing sports facilities for halls and also owns a basketball school.
His eldest son, Ariel (13), also plays basketball in the youth department of Maccabi Tel Aviv and in the club's academy.
In the Ramat Hasharon uniform, Photo: Alan Shiver
How does it feel to change a prefix and reach the age of 40?
"The truth is it feels the same. I do not feel anything different, but I probably still do not realize that I am 40. Many tell me there is an age 40 crisis, and to my delight I do not experience it."
Let's go back a little.
What is your first memory of basketball?
"I was 4-5 years old, and I remember myself with Elijah running with my father on the stairs at the end of Maccabi's training. Always after training everyone would go to take a shower, and only my father would be left to throw, do stretching and also run the stairs."
Did you have a choice as a kid, or was it clear from the start that you were going to be a basketball player?
"My parents gave me a variety of options to choose from, from football, judo, tennis and I was even in a comics class that I really liked. I never felt any pressure that I had to be a basketball player, or that was what was expected of me and if not then they would be disappointed. My brother Niv went too. "It just came naturally, which is the right thing to do."
Niv, Mickey and Roi Berkowitz, Photo: Alan Shiver
What is the most special moment you remember from your career as an actor?
"There are some moments. I had a very beautiful time in the youth of Ramat Hasharon. We connected and we are still in touch from that time. There were some special moments for the same team, one of which is the playoff semifinals in the Youth Super League against Maccabi Tel Aviv by Guy Pnini, Yotam Halperin and Moran Roth.
In the first game we lost at home by 30 points, then in the second game in Tel Aviv we won by 34 points and reached the final.
This is one of the most exciting moments I have ever had.
Winning the championship and the cup in the Netherlands with Dan Bush are also special moments that are etched in my memory. "
You retired at the age of 27 due to injuries.
Do you sometimes regret not being able to play for more years and enjoy basketball?
"It hurts a lot that I had to retire at a young age for an athlete's career, and it also came as a surprise to me, not something I was prepared for. During my career I underwent several left knee surgeries and went back to play, I want to play with the kids in the future and not end my career in a wheelchair, so I should retire. "
It took me a whole year to recover from it, I did not want to hear about basketball and not see basketball, and slowly I managed to get out of it. I went to study and after that I found my place in Ramat Hasharon as a professional manager in Ramat Hasharon. Certainly, which also helped me get out of the bass. "
Roi Berkovich, 40,
Over the past decade you have managed several basketball teams, is this something you want to do in the future?
"I have my basketball school and my girlfriend, and I'm in a place where I'm whole with myself and I really like what I do, but in the future things can happen. In the basketball industry things can always roll, so can be. I do not say no."
Do you follow Israeli basketball?
"Certainly. For someone who has been in basketball for so many years it's hard to break away."
I want to use your perspective as a player in the first decade of the millennium and as a manager in recent years, what is the situation today of the Israeli basketball player?
Does he have more opportunities, more tools, more options?
"We always say whoever is good will play, it is true and false, because sometimes you need the opportunity from the system, and today I think it is more difficult because there are many foreigners in every team. In my time as a player there were more opportunities, for example Guy Pnini. "A lot more players. I'm not saying that today you do not get opportunities, but it is more difficult to pave the way. There are a lot of talented players who are in the national league, who in a good situation and with a system that was more pushing, they were in the Premier League."
What tip can you give to the son of a star starting a career as an athlete?
"Good question. One of the tips is to always be prepared to expect more from you and to be willing to work harder than everyone else, because they will always look at you through a magnifying glass and have comments from people around. It always required me to be the most focused and give myself everything I can at any given moment. "In every warm-up exercise and probably in games. For me it was rooted in character, because I saw it from home, my father's reference to the profession was rare, so he got where he came from."
Mickey Berkowitz.
They will not pass it, Photo: Udi Citiat
Your father received a Lifetime Achievement Award this weekend.
I'm sure this is an exciting moment for you.
"We're very excited, and Dad's very excited. He's not deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award. "Israel. He was an ambassador and he is still the ambassador of the country. We are very proud of him."
Finally, Mickey Berkowitz, Omri Caspi or Danny Abdia?
Who is the greatest Israeli basketball player in history?
"I'm really not objective, but I really think he was not and will not be like Mickey Berkowitz. To lead a team like Maccabi Tel Aviv with the pressure and competitiveness and be one of the best players in Europe, and lead the Israeli team to second place in the European Championship, I really think he is tax '1 at all times, and I do not see anyone who can pass it.
At the same time, both Omri Caspi and Danny Abdia brought a lot of pride and respect to Israeli basketball. "
Abdia.
Doing honor to Israel, Photo: AFP
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