After an intriguing summer of building a team for the league and Eurocup, along with the rumored return of Tomer Ginat to the red uniforms, Hapoel Tel Aviv will open the new season tonight (Monday) in a home game in the round of 16 of the Winner Cup against the newcomer Makrit Ata.
For two of Hapoel Tel Aviv's young and talented players - Eyal Harel and Ili Dolinsky, the season that will begin tonight will be particularly exciting personally and as a team, as the two will begin their first season in the senior team in red uniforms.
Moshe ben Simhon
First season in high school, how does it feel?
Dolinsky:
"Very big excitement, I'm very excited and hope to get on the floor in front of this amazing crowd. I grew up in this club from the age of 7 and reaching the seniors is special for me."
Harel:
"Very exciting. The transition from the club's youth team to the seniors is special and I can't wait to get on the floor and see the amazing Hapoel fans."
Dolinsky and Harel.
Grow up together, photo: Udi Citiat
How did you start playing basketball?
Dolinsky:
"I live near Hapoel Tel Aviv's basketball school. At the age of 6, my mother enrolled me in the club, I was relatively tall and I loved the game very much. Since then I have continued and passed through all the age levels of the club."
Harel
: "I grew up in Hod Hasharon's children's department. In the 11th grade Eran Gamzo contacted me and we agreed on my transfer to Hapoel Tel Aviv. It was a transition that I was very happy with and that's how I ended up at Hapoel."
Who was your favorite player when you started watching basketball as a kid?
Dolinsky:
"Kevin Durant".
Harel:
"LeBron James".
Dolinsky.
Played in the youth team in the summer, photo: Udi Tsitiat
Youth stars
Ili Dolinsky (17, 2.05) and Eyal Harel (18, 2.05) led the Reds' super-youth team to the playoff finals last season, with Dolinsky recording wonderful averages of 17.3 points along with 9.5 rebounds, and Harel impressive numbers of 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds Rebounds and 3.5 assists.
You played in the super youth team this year in front of your friends from high school. How does it feel to go back to school after games?
Dolinsky:
"It's a lot of fun, it's an experience to play in front of your friends, when you come to school after a good game and everyone cheers."
Harel:
"It's an amazing feeling, there's huge support from the friends. I have some friends who are Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, sometimes they get more excited before games than I do. Once even the teacher gave me time off after a good game."
Harel Kole, photo: Udi Tsitiat
Which of the players in the team serve as mentors for you?
Dolansky:
"For me as an interior player it is Tomer Ginat. I saw him on TV playing and now I train with him, it is a great honor for me and I would love to learn a lot from him."
Harel:
"For me, as a guard, it's Bar Timur. Jacob Brown was brought up with his methods, I once tried to steal a ball from him and he gave me a little elbow with a smile, he doesn't give up on me."
Bar Timor.
Educating Harel, photo: Alan Shiver
How does it feel to play in front of the Hapoel Tel Aviv crowd?
Dolinsky:
"Crazy. To go up to the Drive-In and hear the crowd and play in front of them is a dream for me. I work for him every day and hope it comes true."
Harel:
"A dream. I still remember the display of the red crowd in the final of the State Cup against Bnei Herzliya last season, I was in the stands and it was an experience. I'm just waiting to experience it from the floor."
Describe the transition between youth and adult basketball?
Dolinsky:
"It's a very significant transition, only now do I really understand how different the game is. The game is much faster and more aggressive and I'm trying to adapt to it."
Harel:
"As Ili said, it's a completely different game, but your role is also different and you have to accept it. If in your youth you were used to leading the team, now it's completely different and it requires adaptation."
How do you deal with the pressure and status at such a young age?
Harel:
"There is great support from home and friends. Mother helps and supports everything possible. There is no more fun feeling to see the expectations of you and fulfill them."
Dolinsky:
"As Eyal said, I also have great support from home and friends. It helps and is fun. The pressure pushes me forward and spurs me on."
You both signed long-term contracts with the club this summer, tell us about the decision.
Dolinsky:
"I've been in Hapoel since the age of 7, it just felt right to me, it felt like home."
Harel:
"This club is a home for me. Even though I only arrived last season, everyone was warm to me and made me feel at home."
Dolinsky and Harel.
Friends also off the field, photo: Audi Citiat
There are a lot of expectations for Hapoel Tel Aviv ahead of the upcoming season, do you have a dream to win the title here?
Dolinski
: "It's no secret that there is a very strong and special squad here. It could be a historic season here. It's a dream for me to win the title here."
Harel:
"It's a dream to win the title here and to be part of something historic in the eyes of this audience, there is nothing I'm looking forward to more than hearing the songs in the first game."
Are you also good friends off the court?
Dolinsky:
"Of course, the experience from the youth was significant and made us good friends."
Harel:
"Yes, we are very close, we have our own common language"
What is your biggest dream for the rest of your career?
Dolinsky:
"To reach the highest peaks of basketball that I can."
Harel:
"Exhaust my potential and always enjoy the game."
Finally, what do we wish you for the upcoming season?
Harel:
"Enjoy, learn and develop. They are not ashamed to even get on the floor for a few significant minutes."
Dolinsky:
"To feel that I have progressed, I will do everything to get playing minutes."
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