Surprising: after qualifying for the European Cup, Hapoel Haifa announced today (Thursday) the signing of Richard Howell at the club. The naturalized’s last team was Hapoel Holon, where he played in the 20/21 season, which he did not finish due to an injury, from which he recovered last year.
The club’s statement: “Howell, 32 years old (2.03 m), is a naturalized citizen and managed to play for Nahariya, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hapoel Jerusalem with whom he won the national championship, and then two seasons in Holon with whom he also played in the Champions League and finished with an average of 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. In his second season in Holon, the 2020/21 season, he was injured and therefore did not finish the season.”
“In recent months he has been rehabilitating and returning to fitness and upon his arrival in Israel he underwent medical examinations. This morning he signed the contract with the club and will be available to coach Sharon Drucker already in the opening round on Saturday against Hapoel Beer Sheva (7:30 p.m. at Hakonchia Hall), and on Wednesday in the European Cup debut against Gaziantep of Turkey.”
The coach of the team, Sharon Drucker, commented on the signing: “We welcome Richie to the Hapoel B-Cure Lazer Haifa family. A big load awaits us and Richie will be able to help us with the interior positions and with his experience in the various frameworks. Successfully.