Two years ago, Hapoel Holon was joined by a new board member named Yossi Levy, CEO of the successful investment house Moore. Chairman Eitan Lanciano, CEO Roy Deborah and other board members.
"First of all, the fan base makes me invest in the team," Levy says in a first and exclusive interview with Israel Today.
"I am originally from Safed. My grandfather was a rabbi in the city, and the Jewish community lived on donations. For half a year he would travel around Europe to collect money, and then when he returned people had something to eat.
"I also feel that if I get money from the community I have to donate back, and Hapoel Holon is one of my best ways to contribute to the community. Of course I have a special connection with the team, I was a fan from the times of Niv Bogin, Israel Elimelech and others. These were special days. "
Are you satisfied with the conduct of the club?
"Absolutely. Good work is being done on all levels, and you can see that we are progressing every year, both professionally and organizationally. It's a shame that the youth department is not part of the club. We are working on it, because it can have a big impact on both the team "The future generation of fans. We want to connect the whole city to the team."
What do you bring from the business world to upgrade your club?
"Every year I increase my involvement. I put the team into long-term thinking, how to build things and give quiet to the system. In terms of budget we work with a planned budget that we do not exceed. Last season we finished in balance, and it is not easy nowadays to finish a season in a balanced way We are already thinking about the coming years and building an Israeli skeleton that will run with us for a few years with key foreign players, like Chris Johnson, to stay.
"We are thinking of how to upgrade the team in terms of marketing and image, and add more staff to the club. We want to work in orderly formats with high and clear standards, and strive to find more sponsors, which is something we are missing. Hopefully the municipality will increase its support."
Holon players.
Israelis and foreigners hand in hand,
What should be your next step?
"We need patience. Things are not built overnight, but step by step. We want to add professional manpower, and we need to be in a position where every year we are considered a legitimate group in the fight for degrees in Israel and Europe. My goal is to establish our status in Europe."
You mentioned earlier the Israeli character that was in the past. Would you like to see more significant Israeli players on the team?
"We definitely want to bring in young Israeli players who will be with us for 3-4 years. It is not easy to find good Israelis, so we will prepare a special program. That is why I also lack the issue of the youth department. I hope we can resolve the issue."
You must have gotten to know Israeli basketball a bit. How do you see the level of management in the industry?
"One of the problems of Israeli basketball is that people in teams have no patience for long-term processes and planning. This is also reflected in the rapid turnover of foreign players. Economically, with the exception of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem and we who do things to advance each season Manage to rise.
"In some teams, the management is out of emotion and not out of professionalism and proper management. Israeli basketball has a lot to move forward with and one of the important things is to see how they bring in more external money."
Levy with Ragland.
Continuing to Upgrade, Photo: Alan Schieber
"Hope we win the trophy"
Levy (63) lives in Bat Yam.
He has seven children and seven grandchildren.
For the past 30 years, he has been involved in finance, managing the IAI provident fund, among other things.
In 2006, he founded the Moore Investment House, and has since served as the company's CEO.
The investment house supports many athletes like judoka Peter Plachik and others, and the walls of his office are adorned with letters of thanks and appreciation and photos of various athletes.
He invests the money in Hapoel Holon out of his own pocket, and not as a sponsor.
This week Levy will fly to Bilbao to watch his team try to make history and win the Champions League.
"We were in the Final 8 last season, and I can tell you it's not the same thing," he says.
"There's a lot of excitement. We've arranged two planes for the fans, which is something we're not used to, and I estimate there will be around 1,000 of our fans in the hall.
"I hope we will make them happy and win the cup. We have strong rivals against us, but we have already proved this season that on a given day we can beat any team. We have already advanced one stage compared to last season, but we are really not content with that."
What can winning the Champions League do for the club?
"First of all, it will increase our budget significantly for next season. Secondly, as I said before, our ambition is to be regular candidates for titles in every competition we face. The system from an organizational point of view. "
From your stuff it looks like you are going to stay at the club for many more years.
"Absolutely. My plans are long term. I'm in a great relationship with all the board members, who's like family. No one here comes to make money, but everyone cares and contributes to the team in everything they can and know. The fans make me happy that I'm part of this thing. "Because it's a privilege for me to make fans happy. I enjoy every moment and just want it to last."
Holon fans.
Yossi Levy thinks they are wonderful, Photo: Danny Maron
Butter for the audience. What is your response to incidents and incidents of violence that sometimes some of your audience is involved in?
"First of all, I am strongly against violence. Sport is for connecting and making peace between all sections of the population. Sometimes there are crowds that provoke each other, and then people come looking to vent their nerves, so the authorities need to make it clear that sports is not the place, and everyone That he is violent should keep him away from the pitches.
"Having said that, I have to say one more thing: Holon has a wonderful audience, and many times we are put in the spotlight on small events. Us to hardware.
"Never before have such things happened to us."
Finally, what is your vision for Holon?
"I want each year to move forward with our achievements - that's my goal."
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