The sweepstakes show: Chris Johnson wants another plate | Israel today

One of the famous clichés in professional sports holds that it is more difficult to maintain first place than to win it.

The pressure and responsibility that comes with the achievement weighs on the shoulders and makes the job more difficult, much more so than competing for the title, when the expectations are, apparently, lower.

Hapoel Holon entered this summer after winning the second championship in its history.

Her main goal was to keep the skeleton of the players that swept her to the plate.

To the joy of the Purples, they managed to keep Chris Johnson, one of the pillars of the team ahead of time, when they already signed a two-year contract extension with him in January.

"We are happy that Chris has signed. He is one of the significant anchors of the club for the last two seasons, and a club like Hapoel Holon is looking for stability, continuity and players who give their heart and soul for the team. This is exactly what Chris brings with him," said the team's coach Guy Goodes at the time.

In the summer they sat in Holon on building and strengthening the team, the question of appointing a new captain came up after the departure of several key players, including captain Guy Panini and Tyros Magee.

The solution was quick and easy - Johnson was overwhelmingly elected.

"Choosing Chris is very easy, because he symbolizes everything that Holon the worker looks for in a captain - leadership, work ethic, uncompromising war, constant determination and toughness," said the purples.

Goods.

Knows he has someone to trust, photo: Alan Shiver

The club waited for the official announcement of the veteran American forward becoming the new captain, but in terms of the other players, in reality, on the field, Johnson was the leader from the first moment, on the field and in the dressing room.

"Chris helps the new players integrate and gives a personal example of the things he demands from others," said Shawn Dawson, who joined this summer from Bnei Herzliya.

"On the first day I landed in Israel, I saw Chris Johnson. From his attitude you can see that he is not satisfied with second place. He is a born leader, he demands things from you that he shows himself on the field. I connected with this attitude immediately because this is who I am. I did not receive or achieve "Easily nothing in this life, and neither is Chris," said new center Marvin Jones.

The player who joined "Holonia" only about two years ago quickly became the fans' favorite thanks to his easy-going nature and arsenal of skills on the field, which are highly regarded.

Even the fact that he played in the not-too-distant past in the arch-rival, Hapoel Jerusalem, did not harm the audience's love for him.

At the beginning of the summer, when the air train of Hapoel Holon's foreign players arrived in Israel, it was Johnson who was the first to arrive in the Holy Land, and the champion's fans waited for him for long minutes in the National Stadium before his landing late in the evening on Saturday night.

They received him with a spectacular cheering show that surprised the guests of the reception hall, who had a hard time understanding what the uproar was about.

"The welcome was warm and it's a lot of fun for me. What is the goal for the coming season? Very simple - to win the championship again," the player then shared his feelings.

Ragland.

Loves his new captain, photo: Bernie Ardov

"Chris is the oldest player in the team, but that's not why he's the captain. He's our captain because he brings the right attitude to the field and to the dressing room. Every day he serves as a model for the youngsters - he's the first to arrive at training, works harder than everyone else, doesn't take a break and doesn't give up on himself .

"On the field he takes his profession very seriously, and off the field he is a funny and special person. He is very deserving of the position of captain," complimented one of the team's stars, Joe Ragland.

Tonight, in the semifinals of the Winner Cup against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Johnson will have the opportunity to take a significant step towards his first (and not last?) title for the season.

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