Emmanuel Boateng is determined to take another step forward with Hapoel Tel Aviv after a challenging first season in Israel, one in which personal loss and the difficulties of adapting to a new environment made it difficult for the forward to find his footing.

Now more settled, Boateng has embraced life in Israel and the close-knit atmosphere at Hapoel, where he says the support of his teammates, coaching staff and passionate supporters has made a significant difference.

“Israel is an amazing country,” Boateng explained. “When you come to Israel, people tell you not to go because of everything they hear, but when you’re here, you understand the feeling. I think Israel is a very nice country, and Hapoel Tel Aviv is like a family. This is one of the best teams I’ve been with. It’s a family team, so I’m really happy here.”

While concerns about the security situation initially gave him pause, Boateng feels that life has returned to a more normal rhythm, “The only problem was when people were talking about the fighting going on in Israel, but I think it’s just a season that has passed, so everything is moving on normally,” he said.

On the pitch, however, Boateng knows there is still plenty of room for improvement. His first season was particularly difficult following the death of his father, which affected his ability to adjust and perform at his best.

“Last season was quite difficult for me when I came to Israel. After my dad passed away, I had a lot of difficulties adapting on the pitch,” Boateng admitted. “But it’s always good when you have an amazing coach backing you up and giving you the confidence you need. I hope this season everything goes the way we want it to.”

Despite his progress, the forward isn’t completely satisfied with his performances and believes he can contribute more to the team, “I’m not really satisfied because I think I can do more,” he said. “I’m just working toward everything I need to do to improve myself.”

One of the biggest positives of playing for Hapoel has been the connection with the fans, whom Boateng considers among the best he has encountered throughout his career.

“I think Hapoel fans are amazing. They’re among the best fans I’ve ever seen in my career,” he said. “As a player, it’s always good to play in front of amazing fans like these. They keep pushing and encouraging you.”

Boateng was also asked about his future with the club, but made it clear that any decision will depend on both sides.

“That depends on the club and me, so I can’t talk about it now,” he explained. “Hapoel is an amazing team, and that’s why I said everything depends on the club. I’m happy here, and that’s the most important thing.”

As for Hapoel’s ambitions this season, Boateng is keeping his focus on the immediate task rather than looking too far ahead. With the Reds aiming to establish themselves among the league’s top teams, he believes consistency will be crucial.

“As a player, I always say that we need to take everything step by step,” Boateng said. “We can talk about the championship, but I think it’s better to take it game by game. We can talk about the championship after the season.”

Boateng also highlighted the supportive atmosphere within the squad, particularly when it comes to the relationship between teammates competing for minutes and opportunities. Rather than viewing those battles as a competition, he sees them as an opportunity for everyone to help one another improve.

“I think it’s not really a competition; it’s support because we keep supporting each other and that’s the most important thing,” he said. “Even though I’m older than him (Daniel Dappa), if I do something and he needs to tell me, ‘Okay, boy, you need to do this,’ I accept it. If he does the same thing, it’s support, not competition.”

The forward believes the Israeli league is demanding but sees an opportunity for Hapoel to climb the standings, emphasizing the team’s determination to win every game.

“It’s a very good league. The Israeli league is very tough and we’re currently in 3rd place, but we’re only three points away from first place,” Boateng noted. “We’re very determined to win every game, and I think we’ll just keep taking it game by game.”

Finally, Boateng addressed the competition for playing time among Hapoel’s foreign players due to the registration limitations, acknowledging that the coaching staff must make difficult decisions while stressing the professionalism throughout the squad.

“All the foreign players know that only seven can play and it’s the coach’s decision,” he said. “We’re very professional and everyone is ready to play.”

For Boateng, the priorities are clear: continue improving, contribute to Hapoel’s success and make the most of the opportunity to play for a club he has come to view as family. With a difficult first season behind him, he hopes the current campaign will bring greater consistency on the court and help the Reds turn their ambitions into results.