Tabib adds intrigue to Betar-Hap TA showdown
10/29/2012 03:43
Israeli soccer preview: The ever-heated showdown between Betar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv will be even more fiery than usual.
Betar Jerusalem players after win Photo: Adi Avishai
The ever-heated showdown between Betar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv will be
even more fiery than usual on Monday night due to the presence of Eli Tabib in
the Teddy Stadium stands.
Tabib was the owner of Hapoel until the summer,
eventually being chased out of town by protesting Tel Aviv fans unhappy with the
way he was running the club.
Despite the bitter experience, Tabib lost
nothing of his desire to be involved in Israeli soccer and is currently looking
into purchasing Betar from Arkadi Gaydamak.
That of course only gave
Hapoel supporters another reason to despise Tabib, who contrary to any common
sense decided to attend the match at Teddy and add an unnecessary additional
source of friction between two sets of supporters who already staunchly detest
each other. On the field, Betar will be looking to build on its first Premier
League win of the season, while Hapoel will be hoping to recover from its Europa
League setback and move tied on points with leaders Ashdod SC and Maccabi Tel
Aviv.
Jerusalem beat Bnei Yehuda 2- 1 on the road last week, but with
just five points from its first six matches, is only kept out of the relegation
zone thanks to its relatively superior goal difference.
“If we play with
the same determination and will as we did against Bnei Yehuda I believe we will
put on a good show against Hapoel,” said Betar midfielder Kobi
Moyal.
“Hapoel is a very good team, but in this league every team can be
beaten.”
Hapoel remained bottom of Europa League Group B with just a
single point from three games after suffering a frustrating 2-1 home defeat to
Viktoria Plzen on Thursday. However, its 3-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa last
week was its fifth in six league matches and the Reds can climb into first place
on Monday by beating Betar by three goals or more.
Also Monday, Ironi
Kiryat Shmona hosts Hapoel Beersheba.
On TV: Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs
Hapoel Beersheba (live on Sport 1 at 6:45 p.m.); Betar Jerusalem vs Hapoel Tel
Aviv (live on Channel 1 at 8:50 p.m.)