Just a little over three years ago passed Nigel Hasselbaink From Kiryat Shmona to Hapoel Beer Sheva in one of the most expensive deals in the history of Israeli football. The Dutch-Surinamese extremist arrived during the relegation period of BS after the championships, and during the Corona he released his contract and chose to leave Israel.
In a special interview with the sports channel, he says: “After the Gold Cup I refused several offers. I had offers from the top leagues in the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Greece and even in the East. I did not feel good with these offers, I wanted to wait and in the meantime the teams signed other players. But I am in no hurry to accept them. ” Hasselbaink summed up the period in Sakhnin: “It was complicated there, I was unlucky, we had good games, but the ball did not come in. I can not point to one point as a reason, our connection was not good enough on the pitch. In football must connect.”
The answer to the next question is expected to be heard by many Hapoel B’Shlosha fans – why he chose to leave. “I had offers from other countries and I had an almost closed deal, in Be’er Sheva the reality was difficult. The Corona hit, there was no football, I was thinking of going back to the Netherlands. It was a huge mistake to leave Be’er Sheva, if I look back I am sorry. They treated me great, I had an excellent contract from the highest in the club, this is probably the biggest mistake of my football career. Eventually the other deals fell through. It affected my career, after I left I did not play for five months. It hurt my career, “the striker explained.
In addition, he does not rule out the possibility of returning to Israel: “If I receive an offer from Israel I will consider it positive, I know the country and the league. Israel is my second home, if the offer is worthy of course I will return. I train every day, three times a week I train twice “In my day. My body feels good, I’m ready to play. I play friendly games to keep fit.”
Hasselbaink continues to follow the Israeli league: “I see Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel B’Shlosha, I think Maccabi Haifa has more quality, but B’Shlosha is more team-based, it is difficult to compare them. I think Maccabi Haifa will win the championship, but also B’Shlosha. There’s a good chance. I hope the race is close to the end, it’s always fun to see two teams fighting for the title. “
On teammate Charon Cherry: “He’s the best player in the league, what he does with the ball is magic. His left foot is magical, he brings it game after game and now I see he’s the captain. The league suits him.”
On his close friend, Brandley Kubas: “He is my best friend, I do not know what is happening at Maccabi Tel Aviv. He started great, I think with the arrival of the coach his status changed. Kubas can play in any lineup, he has shown what he is capable of, I hope he will succeed, the coach should let him play and show what he knows. He has special abilities and a tremendous left leg. “
About his relative, Gallophilo Plater Hasselbaink: “Gliophilo is a relative, his mother’s last name is Hasselbaink and his father’s Plater, he is a second-degree cousin. Scorer, currently not going for him, but he has abilities and he did it on big stages. If they trust him more, he is still young and has time to develop, I believe in him. If the club believes he will win, he knows how to score goals. “
Hasselbaink played in Eindhoven’s youth department and was asked about her Israeli player, Eran Zehavi: “I read that Eran’s wife is interested in leaving, I can understand them. It’s not easy to play outside your country with the family, probably after what happened to them. Footballer. It’s not an easy decision, a man has to feel at home and it does not matter where you are. He’s very successful in the Dutch league, Eindhoven is very much loved. He’s a good player, he’s not one of the league stars, “.
About Sean Weissman with whom he collaborated at Kish: “I do not want to say that I am surprised, he also worked hard in KS, his ability was expressed then. He never complained in life, he progressed amazingly, he is now an excellent striker.”
On the man who brought him to Hapoel B’Shlosha, Barak Bachar: “Bachar analyzes the game in a great way, what makes him a good coach is that he can change lineup or even make a substitution within minutes, not all coaches have eggs to do that. And with him everything works, if a change needs to be made he will do it. During games he changes things fast, this is a great quality for the coach. He can also be successful in the Dutch league in a big team, in tactics he is excellent. “
On his friend from the court, Miguel Vitor: “I think Miguel will retire in Israel, he is a captain on and off the field. He is not looking for a mess, he wants everyone around him to be happy. He always solves the problems in the rooms. He is a leader, always aiming, helping, he does not want to miss a game, always giving his heart on the field. That’s why he became an icon in the toilet. You can always trust him. “
Why do you miss Israel the most?
“I miss the weather in Israel, I miss stadiums in Israel, I miss Shabbat meals. The people in Israel are good.”
Who do you think will win if Israel and Surinam meet?
“It will be a difficult game, Suriname and Israel have good capabilities, it will be an intriguing game, I think Suriname will win in the end.”
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