Local Soccer: Betar to open Channel 1 Cup vs Shakhtar

Jerusalem's new Peruvian signing Cesar Junior Viza is likely to make his club debut in the game against Donetsk.

By JEREMY LAST
betar jerusalem 298.88 (photo credit: www.beitar-jerusalem.net)
betar jerusalem 298.88
(photo credit: www.beitar-jerusalem.net)
A near-full house is expected for the opening game of the third annual Channel One Cup on Wednesday night, when Israeli league champion Betar Jerusalem will take on Ukranian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk at Teddy Stadium. The week-long tournament, intiated by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, will see six teams split into two groups with all games played at Tel Aviv's Bloomfield Stadium aside from Betar's Group A games against Donetsk and on Wednesday and CSKA Moscow next Tuesday. The teams in Group B will be Spartak Moscow, Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Kiev. The top two teams from each group will play in the final on January 31. Shakhtar, which won the first Channel One Cup two years ago, has been one of the top teams in the Ukranian league since it was launched in 1992. Over the last 10 years Donetsk has battled with Dinamo Kiev for the league title, winning in 2002, 2005 and 2006 and finishing runner-up every other year. The club has plenty of Champions League experience and should prove a tough test for Israel's top team. Jerusalem's new Peruvian signing Cesar Junior Viza is likely to make his club debut in the game against Donetsk. Defenders Shimon Gershon and Tomer Ben-Yosef were absent from Betar's training session on Tuesday at the clubs training ground in Bayit Vegan. The pair suffered injuries during the game against Ashdod on Sunday. Toto Tamuz also did not train as he has been suspended by the club for comments made to the media following the win in Ashdod. Although a disciplinary hearing was held by the club on Tuesday, no decision has been made over his future.