Ten years since he entered Hapoel Jerusalem and acquired ownership, Eyal Chomsky officially parted ways with the club on Tuesday after the transfer of ownership to investor Matan Adelson was completed.
"I'll start by thanking the people who went with me. I've been agreeing for ten years, and this is exactly this week, there's something mystical about it," Chomsky said. "I would like to thank Guy Harel, who for nine years was actually my right hand and accompanied me in everything that happened at the club, even in the past year. I think Guy is the number one basketball figure in the State of Israel, without you I wouldn't have succeeded.
Eyal Chomsky at the press conference, tonight, photo: Danny Maron
"The second one I want to thank is Ori Alon, who together had the daring and ability to dream big together. I think the outlook of both of us completely changed the DNA of the team. Moshe Greenberg, my previous partners, the people who have been in the organization over the past decade, and Amir and Elad, my wife's brothers."
Chomsky added: "Thanks to you, Hapoel Jerusalem has become something big and we have managed to build an organization of the highest standards. This factory of the club made a significant change and upgrade, we managed to win two championships, three cups, reached the semi-finals of the Eurocup, reached the Champions League final with thousands of fans in Malaga. On average, every season there is a title."
"I would like to wish Matan Adelson great success at Hapoel Jerusalem. I wish him success not only on the court. I tell him to preserve the DNA and humanity of Hapoel Jerusalem. Maintain the attitude of 'I have love and it will win'. As soon as I understood that he was buying the team I understood that it was for its own good and that everything had to be done for the club. As soon as I understood that this was the situation, I acted in the best interest of the club. I believe in giving. I don't know anything about next season, I've handed over the reins to Matan."
Eyal Chomsky at the press conference, tonight, photo: Danny Maron
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Chomsky went on to talk about his desire to enter the Euroleague, a dream that was never realized: "I made every effort to convince us that for the good of Israeli basketball and Maccabi Tel Aviv's competition it would be better for us to play, but their competition is against football and other means of leisure. At some point I realized that Maccabi Tel Aviv didn't want us in the Euroleague. If we are Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin, it will only bring more income. I tried to explain it, deal with it, and I couldn't. I really hope Matan succeeds."
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