Summary: Maccabi Tel Aviv - Hapoel Beer Sheva 0:1/Sport1
The State Cup meetings between the National League teams and those from the Premier League are an opportunity for young players from the minor league to prove themselves and arrange for themselves a chance to jump a step to the top league.
For Ben Vahva, Tiberias city defender, the Premier League is not an unattainable goal.
The 31-year-old defender has 250 appearances in the first league and out of choice, he preferred to go down and play in the national league for Tiberias, which he wants to lead at the end of the season to a historic promotion to the Premier League.
In a special interview ahead of the game, which comes after a painful loss to Maccabi Jaffa on Friday, Vahva talked about the feelings in the club.
"The game against Maccabi Jaffa sits on us and it hurts to lose. In general, we are in a less good time. But a cup is not a league and we really want to succeed. To make our fans happy. We will go to Beer Sheva to win."
"We don't need to tremble or be surprised if we pass Am Hapoel Be'er Sheva."
Vahva/Maor Alxalsi
In the previous round you won in Ashdod and eliminated MS.
from the cup
Tiberias looked like a Premier League team in that game
"We were in a better time then, but I still agree that Shironi Tiberias is a strong team. There are players here with the quality of the Premier League center and I hope we will prove it on the field in Beer Sheva."
What is the reason for your decline at the moment?
"Football is like football. There are players in less good shape, injured players and then suddenly there is a decline. In football, things change in one game."
Reminds a bit of Hapoel Beer Sheva's drop in the last two games
"True. It happened to them too. Even a team that takes a championship experiences a drop during the season. Victory is the best medicine."
There is the cliché that says that if you are in a struggle to go down or up, it is better to concentrate on it and not to struggle in two enterprises.
Maybe it wouldn't be too bad if you were kicked out of the cup and only focused on promotion to the Premier League?
"No, no. A league is a league and a cup is a cup. We want to enjoy both the game and after the game."
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"A league is a league and a cup is a cup"/Maor Alxalsi
Urban Tiberias is very professional.
How does it feel on a daily basis?
"It's everything from everything. I played for several teams in the Premier League and here we have all the conditions and everything a footballer needs. We have everything a player needs to succeed."
You don't train in the city and you don't play in the city.
How frustrating is that?
"I guess it frustrates our fans, but soon we will train in the city and play in the city. This project will soon also reach a home stadium that all the city's residents can enjoy."
You are not in Tiberias at all?
"We sometimes go to practice on the court in Tiberias or we go out to eat at a restaurant in Tiberias. It's not that there is a disconnection. But our training is in Ilot and we play outside of Tiberias."
It's frustrating to feel that you can play in the Premier League, but are in the National League?
"Maybe others will feel that way. I don't feel it because I was in the Premier League and played more than 250 games. I'm equal to the Premier League. There were things along the way that took me to the National League and I don't regret it. I'm sure I'll return to the Premier League."
Miguel Vitor will be absent tomorrow.
How much do you value him as a brake to brake and how much can it help you?
"Miguel is one of the top defenders who played in Israel and he is also at a good European level. A leader, a personality, it's fun to see him. It's clear that he won't play, it's not bad for us."
Will it be a surprise if you dismiss Hapoel Beer Sheva?
"It won't surprise me. Maybe others will be surprised. We are a good team. If they look at the players we have, then there is no need to tremble or be surprised if we pass."
More on the same topic:
Ben and Heba
Urban Tiberias
Hapoel Beer Sheva