The Opening of a Season

This past weekend the Israel Soccer League, Ligat Ha’Al, opened up their new season with a full slate of games, with one more this evening to complete the 1st round action.

A few thoughts crossed my mind while watching much of the action across the country.

A) It was great to see a fantastic crowd last night at a sold out Bloomfield Stadium last night for the Maccabi Tel Aviv Vs. Maccabi Haifa match. The crowd was absolutely tremendous, chanting throughout the 90 minutes and they were able to witness a well played game won by Maccabi Haifa on a beautiful goal by Mohamed Ghadir from a stunning pass by Peter Masilela.

Ghadir is a terrific young forward with an extremely bright future ahead of him. Even if we take away the goal Ghadir had a fabulous game. He was all over the filed and out in 110% effort on this night.

The Haifa crowd, well over 2500 people blanketed the endzone in green and cheered their team on. Many of these fans were the same ones who had been at the stadium a couple of months earlier when Haifa lost the title on goal differential to Hapoel Tel Aviv who hoisted the Championship Plate at Beitar’s Teddy Stadium. That night the Haifa faithful were stunned. Total silence enveloped their crowd as players sat dejected on the field in disbelief.

This night however, a different feeling resonated in the Haifa section. One of unity, one of joy and one of exhilaration.

On a disappointing note, it was sad to see Barak Yitzhaki, the former Beitar striker now in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform being carted off the field with an injury that will keep him out at least half a year. What sorrow. Yitzhaki was so looking forward to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s visit to Teddy Stadium next week to take on Beitar Jerusalem.

B) Beitar Jerusalem came out in Netanya and took a 1-0 lead on an Amit Ben-Shushan goal, but it was all down hill from there. Uri Malmillian former Beitar great had to witness his team totally implode and give up four unanswered goals, with a 4th goal that seemed as if not one player on the Jerusalem side cared to defend.

Not a great way to start off the year. Malmillian is coaching his former team and is one who puts in tons of work and hours into his team, so the loss must have been even harder for him to swallow.

Beitar welcomes Maccabi Tel Aviv next Sunday night and one can only wonder what state the Tel Aviv side will be in. They are now coming off two straight losses, one in the Europa League Qualification tournament to Paris St. Germain and now this home loss to Maccabi Haifa. Before they show up in the Capital, They have to play the 2nd leg against PSG at home and they could be in for a long, long evening with no Barak Yitzhaki in the lineup.

Beitar is already in a “must win” situation or else the fans will be calling for the heads of Beitar management. In a relationship that is already rocky with team Chairman, Yitzik Kornfein another loss would create more problems that Beitar does not need.

C) Hapoel Tel Aviv. What a disaster. Coach Eli Gutman going on a tirade after a 1-0 loss against Hapoel Haifa. An injury to arguably their best player Itay Schecter who is now in doubt for the 2nd leg of their Champions League Qualifier on Tuesday night Vs. FC Salzburg. Danny Bonder, a National Team player being singled out and embarrassed by Gutman in front of management and the whole team-disgraceful! Oy Va Voy!

This is a team that is total disarray and they MUST put it back together before their big match on Tuesday night. Their whole Champions League Campaign rides on this. Gutman has to get back the player’s trust quickly. If not the scene at Bloomfield on Tuesday night could be a nightmare waiting to happen.

With all of the above being said, I believe Israel soccer fans are in for a fun season of intrigue. It will be interesting where the league ends up come May 2011, but I think we are off to a great start, with plenty of storylines to keep the soccer fan involved day in and day out. And that is all one could ask for.