Roi Mishfati was defined as the "keeper of the trophy" of Maccabi Haifa last season.
He didn't concede a single goal on the way to the final against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, but three days before, Mishfati was injured in the championship game against Maccabi Netanya and missed the biggest moment of his career.
His associates said that he "cried all night and had a hard time coming to terms with the injury", but clarified: "Roi Adam is a believer, and in the end he came to terms with the fact that it was a higher power and waited for his next opportunity."
However, the 30-year-old Shafti also started the 2022/23 season as a substitute goalkeeper.
He got opportunities in the league against Benny Reina (loss 1:0) and continued to wait until the start of the World Cup break.
Josh Cohen's shoulder injury took my lips up a notch.
There was no longer anyone blowing his neck, and the title "first goalkeeper" at Maccabi Haifa was binding.
"He had a lot of conversations to strengthen security," the club said, "also with the goalkeeping coach, Guy Wiesinger, and with players who made it clear that they trust him."
They also said in Haifa: "In the end, there is not much of a difference in the level of ability between Josh Cohen and Roy Meshapti, and an opportunity has arisen here that should be taken."
"The perfect age for him"
So far, since the return from the hiatus, Maccabi Haifa is in perfect balance, but beyond the points Roi Misfati took his opportunity between the posts.
A clean sheet against Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Beer Sheva, including stopping a critical penalty in last season's game.
"It was a moment of change in my career, at this level," said those around the green goalkeeper, "stopping a penalty in Maccabi Haifa, at the most important moment of the season, when you have a stand of 8,000 fans behind you and everyone is in a frenzy, it fills you with confidence and can take things in a different direction. The hope is that it Whatever will happen in the end."
With Dolev Haziza in front of BS Seger Magal, photo: Alan Shiver
By the way, Mishfati's mobile phone was flooded with hundreds of messages after the last game against Be'er Sheva.
"Going from goalie at MS Ashdod to madness at Maccabi Haifa is a bit of a change", Mishfati's friends admitted, "It's a change of heaven and earth, and right now the age is perfect for him as a goalkeeper. With a little more confidence, the full potential will be greater."
By the way, the white point was quite a crossroads in the career of Roi Mishpeti.
He missed the duel in the same cup final last season, but was the one who stopped the penalty against them in the last first.
When he played in the youth team of Hapoel Rishon LeZion and was marked as a goalkeeper with great potential, he knocked out Maccabi Haifa in the quarter-finals of the cup after the relegation against Shlomi Azoulai the midfielder.
In the same season, Rishon Lezion and Shaphti lifted the youth cup, against Beitar Jerusalem of Eli Desa and Ofir Kariaf.
"It all depends on him"
Now a situation has arisen in which everything comes together, and Roi Mishfati wants to win the cup with Maccabi Haifa and close all the circles, but first of all to be healthy.
At a meeting held last month, after the injury of Josh Cohen, it was decided by the professional team to give Mesfati the time to prove himself before deciding whether to add another goalkeeper.
Now, when Josh Cohen returns to partial training and in light of the good ability shown by the man between the posts, the plans to add another goalkeeper have stopped.
As long as there is no bad news from Josh Cohen's direction, Mishfati will continue to stand at the gate and the American Jew will have to find his way between the bars.
"My lips? Everything depends on him," said coach Barak Bacher about his goalkeeper, "he does a lot to justify his place and I trust him."
Tonight, Maccabi Haifa will once again start its way to the cup.
Also this season Mishpeti will stand between the posts, only with the definition of "first goalkeeper" and not "cup goalkeeper".
Along the way, at the age of 30 he will be able to close all the unresolved circles from the last year and in general.
As a matter of fact, Maccabi Haifa has not yet conceded in the second most important match when Meshapti is in goal - not last season, not in the game in the previous round against Hapoel Nof HaGilil.
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