The players of the Israeli national team have not calmed down yet that their private conversations were leaked to the media after the 2-2 draw with the Romanian national team. During the last day and after Eran Zehavi’s message against the players in the sector came out, further personal conversations continued between them when Zehavi, Uriel Degani and especially Nir Bitton were very angry. “For my part, the Israeli media will not cover us anymore and no one in the media will be allowed to approach us,” said the nervous Bitton, adding, “at least until we know who leaked.”
The Sports Channel learned today (Thursday) that the Football Association’s vice president and national team manager Avi Levy made a decision together with the association’s chairman Oren Hasson not to close the team until June, as requested by captain Beavers Natcho. However it was decided not to allow players to write in it and it was limited to official announcements from the principals only, for fear of increasing tensions between the team players ahead of the Nations Cup games.
After the publication of the public announcements of Iyad Abu Oved and Ramzi Spouri against the recent attacks and best wishes for the recovery of the wounded, the discourse calmed down and the players cheered for two and Beavers was cut off. Zehavi posted a post in support of the captain in which he wrote: “If anyone had any doubt that Natcho does not deserve to be captain of the Israeli national team.” Professional director Yossi Benyon intends to initiate a conversation between Zehavi, Natcho and Muna Dabour, the three veterans on the staff, to calm the spirits.
Some Arab players claimed that the Football Association was to blame when it did not allow players from the sector to be interviewed yesterday after the final whistle. “If they had allowed Dabour or us to be interviewed, we would not have reached such a state of chaos,” said one of them. Dabour and Muhammad Abu Fani are the only two players in the sector who have not yet responded. It is clear that the two condemn the attacks, even if they do not go out and express themselves in messages on social media.
As for the next coach: By the end of April, Yossi Benyon is expected to bring to the selection committee two names of final candidates. As published, the professional manager did not rule out the appointment of a foreign coach and on the Israeli side only Alon Hazan, the coach of the young team, is currently considered.