Although it started a little late due to such and such ownership issues, Hapoel Jerusalem, it seems, began to “give gas” with the construction of the team for next season. One of the questions that delayed the team from the capital was the issue of the coach – and in a special interview with Shai HaOzman, CEO Guy Harel addressed the possibility that Oded Katash, the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv today, would deviate from the track and return to stand on the lines in the arena.
- The full interview with Guy Harel: Tonight, 22:00, on 5 SPORT
Oded Katash was a character you fall in love with in the locker room?
“Unequivocal”.
And when Oded Katash decides to fold the peculiarities and leave during the year for Panathinaikos, do you see that as an injury? betrayal?
“He did not betray, he made a decision contrary to my opinion. Of course it is an injury.”
Offended?
“No, not even a little. I was angry. I told him.”
Did you press him for release?
“Very. Oded called, and said that soon Panathinaikos would call. They called me and told me they wanted Oded. I told them let me get back to you. I picked up the phone to the owner, I asked their opinion, they asked what I think. I said I think you should not let Oded go, they “They said they think so too. From past experience, I picked up the phone after less than an hour and cheered and Panathinaikos. I know that, once the dynamics start you can’t stop it. The train left the station.”
“I picked up the phone for everyone, I said to them, ‘Guys, Oded stays at Hapoel Jerusalem.’ Everyone said, ‘Nice.’ La that until tomorrow Oded will sign for Panathinaikos. She told me ‘I did not understand, I just heard you announce that it will not happen and everyone said it was okay’ “.
So what has changed?
“changed his mind”.
Did you know he would change his mind?
“I had no doubt. In retrospect he may think it was a mistake, but it is an opportunity not to be missed. Oded also told me at length, even though I did not receive the explanations.”
“We talked about being in love with Oded? Well, I saw a headline that Oded spoke in our context about the status of the coach, and I also read Lior Lubin at the beginning of the season saying that. They left their teams in the middle of the season because they got a better offer. Imagine a situation that Hapoel Jerusalem “Replaces Oded Katash because a great coach has arrived, Dzikic, got Jerusalem syndrome and wants to coach now in the capital. And that’s why they replace Oded Katash, not because he is a good coach or not, he is an excellent coach. I was angry with him.”
Are you sorry you agreed he would go?
“I did not agree. After all, what happens, a coach is not like a player. For a player you have to sign a release form, a coach resigns. You want to sue him, you will sue, but it will end in money. If it’s already in money, let’s finish it now and move on. “.
It ended beautifully?
“is very”
This means that in theory, if Yotam Halperin had managed to reach a decision at an earlier stage – Oded Katash is the coach of Hapoel Jerusalem this season.
“Oded Katash on the list of candidates. I can not tell you whether he is a coach or not because the discussion did not take place, but I did encourage him on the list. His name stands out prominently. Although there are also foreign coaches, and there are other Israeli coaches.”
So could it be that the delay of Yotam Halperin caused Oded Katash to coach Maccabi Tel Aviv now and not Hapoel Jerusalem?
“Butterfly Wings … I do not know what would have happened. If some Ukrainian does not annoy Putin I do not know what our reality looks like.”