"I felt turned off and depressed. I want to go home and play in Israel"

"Andorra did not want to release me for the team. I offered to give up part of the salary, and they demanded that I sign a scandalous document that the contract was canceled if I was injured. When I returned, the general manager did not speak to me for a month."

Exclusive: Gal Makal tells of the difficult year in his career, which was probably his last as a legionnaire

Ahrela Weisberg

12/04/2022

Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 3:00 p.m.

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Gal Makal's international career is one of the longest, most varied and impressive for an Israeli basketball player abroad. In addition to becoming the country's second representative in the NBA, he has appeared in five different teams in the EuroCup, marched two of them to Euroleague tickets, and himself played in the senior European factory with two Foreign groups: Last week, at the age of 34, the quarterback was released from Andorra, in what may turn out to be a jarring ending chord to his long years as a legionnaire

. With the general manager, pressures that he will relinquish his right to play for the Israeli national team, a "scandalous" document - as he defined it - that he was required to sign, as well as a personal emotional turmoil that clouded him for months. To play again in Israel, maybe already this season.

"I did not enjoy Andorra from the first moments," admits Makal.

"It was very difficult for me to be without the family, without my wife and children. I played abroad for more than ten years, so I used to miss and be alone in some cases, but this time it was different.

When you are away from the children, the longing hurts from within and is much harder to deal with.

Unfortunately, I was injured for much of the season, and without the game routine that fills me, coping has become even more difficult.

"Andorra is a very beautiful place, but small, secluded and cold. All this data has brought me to a situation where for a long time I felt off, unhappy and even depressed. I missed my three anchors - family and friends, basketball and residence - this season. I was without my loved ones. "Without the ability to exercise myself in basketball, and in a place that did not give me energy."

More on Walla!

Finished his way in Spain: Gal Makal was released from Andorra

To the full article

"I did not enjoy the first moments. The longing for children hurt from the inside. Andorra is a very beautiful place, but small, secluded and cold."

Gal Makal, Season (Photo: Official Website, Andorra Website)

- Why did you sign in Andorra in the first place, when you knew that your wife Daniel was about to give birth to your second son during the season and would not be able to join you?

"The decision to sign in Andorra came from the head, not the stomach and heart. Already in the summer I wanted to play again in the country, because of a medical problem my mother had to deal with, but once her condition improved and offers came from Spain, I told myself I would make the effort. I planned it would be my last year in Europe. Seems right - a team that plays in the EuroCup, and usually competes at the top of the Spanish league. We decided that the family would come to visit several times, and we thought it would be okay. But I was wrong. When the heart and mind are not in the same place with the body

, How many times why do I need it.

I have a family, a wife and children in the country, I do not have fun, and it is likely that the injuries are also part of it.

At the age of 34, after I fulfilled almost everything I dreamed of in my career, what's in it? "

"The obsession to finish the job I started, and the belief that I always find the way, are what kept me going. I had an inner voice that said - here, in another moment I'm recovering, getting in shape and giving in."

"That inner voice started to change in the team's last window. In mid-January, after recovering from corona, I injured my twin muscle. I had an MRI and was told it would take four or five weeks to recover. The first thing I did was open the calendar and calculate how much time was left until the cup qualifier window. "I was happy to see that I was supposed to be fit in time and even return to a game or two with the team before I flew to Israel."

"It was an informed decision, and I live in peace with its consequences."

Stick with Tamir Blatt on the Israeli team (Photo: Official website, FIBA ​​website)

"You're already being laughed at for living from window to window ...

" In the last two years, with all the 'luck' I had, I came to the team windows three times from injuries that disabled me for about a month. Each time I did the rehabilitation in the country, And this time, the team did not approve me to do the rehabilitation in Israel, and insisted that I stay in Andorra and work with the local team. I did not feel sharp, the place was still sensitive and I was hesitant.

"A few days before the flight to Israel, Andorra announced that she did not want me to play for the team because I had just returned from injury and I was still not fit. It was legitimate, and I could understand where this demand came from, but to be honest it did not interest me. If I'm not in top form, I'll play for the national team, period. In Barcelona. In order not to continue the argument, I told him that we would talk when I was in the country, and that I should check with the team members if it was possible.

"I knew in my heart that with all due respect to the game against Barcelona, I will give up.

I was in full coordination with the team, and they sent an email to the team that despite understanding the problematic situation, the basketball association does not release me. "

"In the days before the first game, the pressure from the team continued and I knew that their demand made sense, but it was clear to me what I wanted and what was important to me, even if there might be consequences for my decision. To solve the problem and lower the tension, For the time I was on the team. Legally I did not have to do that, because as a basketball player I have the right to represent my country, but I wanted to concentrate on the team, without dramas.

" Required me to sign a document that if I was injured during the team window or in the next two games in Andorra, my contract would be canceled.

Of course I did not sign this scandalous document, and I probably knew why. "

"I thought this tension would not affect me and that I would know to make the separation and concentrate only on basketball, but it seeped in. In addition to the body, which did not feel best after the injury, the troubled and tense head also joined. "A little off the field: a fracture in the palm, two adhesions in the corona, muscle injuries and now a fracture in the thumb. I also wonder why this happens, but I believe the body and mind are related and affect each other, and the situation I was with did not add to my peace of mind."

"I would like to stay there for a few more years, after the historic season we did. But they have embarked on a new path."

During his time in Gran Canaria (Photo: Official Website, Official Website of Gran Canaria)

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Stick, as mentioned, stabilized in the team despite everything.

For almost four years, since June 2018, he averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 assists in the media, and she maintained a 0: 7 balance in games in which he partnered.

But then Germany reached the Shlomo Group Hall, won - and significantly hurt Israel's chances of qualifying for Mondobasket.

For the rematch the captain no longer appeared, after the prophecy seemed to have come true, and he was injured again and broke his thumb.

"After I had a photo and it turned out to be a breakup, I knew the strained relationship with the team would go up a few notches. I sent a message to the general manager, in which I told him what had happened, and to this day he did not reply. I was very disappointed by the whole situation. You were selected after almost four years, and the feeling was strange. "

"In the test of the result, everything went upside down. We lost the first game, I was not at my best and I was injured and sat down again for a month. And yet, if you were to take me back, to the point where you have to decide, "Of my career, trying to get to the World Championships after 40 years, and of course playing at the European Championships in the summer - that's a big drive for me."

"I went back and started again in a recovery process that should last a month. During that month I did not exchange a word with the manager. The coach understood my position, but was disappointed with the situation, and the fact that the team got into a stressful situation did not really add. Perception of the ball is accompanied by sharp pain, and at the same time I am required to play with a brace that limits the feeling and movement. "

The

straw that broke the camel's back came when I gradually returned to training with touch, and during one of the workouts I felt a slight contraction of the muscle, as a result of a 'wooden leg' with another player.

I finished the workout as usual, and the next day was still sensitive.

I was tested, and in consultation with the physiotherapist I was told that everything was fine, but that it was better not to train one day, so that I would fully recover.

"To my surprise, the general manager broke a month's silence, called me to the office that day and informed me I was standing for a disciplinary committee and I was subject to a fine because I violated the team rules when I did not want to train even though I was healthy. At that moment I knew the story was over. "Trust and bad energy, along with the longing for family and the fact that I have not enjoyed for several months, I just said thank you, gave up some of the money and came to an agreement with the group about parting. With great joy I said 'come on, home', because my joy, health and happiness are worth more." .

"I'm proud of the years I've done, and sometimes you have to say goodbye and start something else."

Stick in Dallas Mavericks uniform (Photo: GettyImages)

Listen: Ahrela Weisberg on Gal Makal and Hapoel Holon

- And what now?

When can you play again?

Do you even want to return this season?

"This week I will pass tests and go on the field, then I will know better. I will make a decision accordingly. I really want to return to play, and maybe even join a team competing for the championship in the country. And yet, the first priority is to feel good and prepare myself for summer, .

"In this business I learned that you can never be sure, but by and large it is.

I want to go home.

I'm proud of the years I've done, and sometimes you have to say goodbye and start something else.

I see myself playing in Israel. "

"There is no scientific reason for that. In most cases I upgraded to better contracts in better teams, and there were also cases like in Andorra where things did not work out. I was happy to stay in Gran Canaria for a few more years, after the historic season we did there, but they decided to shuffle the cards and build a new team. ".

"I looked at where I stand in my career, I knew it was probably my last year in Europe, and I also did not feel I was at the peak of energy in Andorra. On the other hand, it was always fun to get on the team, meet friends, play well and create something special. Educated, and I live in peace with its consequences. "

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