As the Israeli professional leagues remain on pause due to the war with Iran, many clubs – in both soccer and basketball – have worked to ensure the safety and well-being of their players, including native Sabras as well as the foreign and naturalized Israelis who have come to the Holy Land to ply their trade.
In some cases, foreign players and naturalized Israelis have temporarily departed via the borders with Egypt or Jordan and will return once conditions stabilize and league play resumes. However, others have chosen to remain in Israel and stand with their clubs during these trying times.
One of those players is Georgiy Yermakov.
The Maccabi Haifa No. 1 goalkeeper and his family made aliyah several years ago thanks to their Jewish roots, relocating to Holon as war broke out between Ukraine and Russia. Yermakov, who grew up in Kyiv, attended a Jewish day school under the direction of Chief Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch and remains in contact with him and his children to this day.
During his youth, he honed his skills at Youth Sportive School #15 in Kyiv before signing with Shakhtar Donetsk, where he featured for the club’s reserve team.
Georgiy Yermakov's background
Prior to making aliyah, Yermakov had already visited both Israel and Haifa, giving him a sense of familiarity when Maccabi Haifa signed him and subsequently loaned him to FC Oleksandriya of the Ukrainian league. There, he enjoyed a stellar campaign last season and was named Goalkeeper of the Year in his homeland.
Following that star-studded season, the 23-year-old returned to Haifa through the front door and claimed the starting goalkeeper position for the Greens.
“It’s a big club with a great history, and I know this is one of the biggest clubs in Israel, with many titles,” Yermakov said. “I watched Maccabi Haifa’s Champions League matches, and that taught me about the club. Since then, I’ve been following the team, watching games, and reading about the club. I want to help the team win as many titles as possible. I understand these are big goals, and we need to work hard as a team and individually.”
Winning Goalkeeper of the Year has certainly given Yermakov confidence, but he remains grounded in his team-first mentality.
“It’s always nice to win personal awards like that, but the main goal is to succeed with the team. The team’s results are much more important than individual performance. A goalkeeper is only part of the team – the defense starts with the striker and ends with you.”
So far, his experience in Israel has been overwhelmingly positive, as Maccabi Haifa continues to build a squad capable of competing for titles in the coming years.
“In Israel, I feel good, and the people around me have contributed to that. There was an adjustment period, but now I feel comfortable. I spend most of my time with my wife, my parents, and Nikita Rukavytsya’s family, a former Haifa striker. We’re both originally from Ukraine, so we have a lot to talk about and understand each other very well. The people in Israel are very kind and welcoming.”
Unfortunately, both his country of birth, Ukraine, and his adopted home, Israel, are currently engulfed in war – an emotional and complex reality that requires composure and perspective.
“This topic is very sad and painful for me. War is a human tragedy and, in the end, innocent people pay the price. Experiences like this prevent you from panicking and help you act with a cool head. That’s important, especially in times like these.”
At present, Yermakov’s wife remains in Ukraine while he is in Israel, making his bond with the Rukavytsya family even more vital during this difficult stretch.
“My wife is currently in Ukraine, and I’m in Israel. It’s an unusual and worrying situation, but we know how to handle difficulties and stay strong. As for the Rukavytsyas, we have an excellent relationship. Our families are close, and I truly appreciate him and his family for their support, especially during this period.”
With league play suspended, the goalkeeper has stayed focused on maintaining his fitness and keeping morale high within the squad.
“Nikita and I have already returned to training together. We continue to work and prepare for the rest of the season, as it’s a very important part of this period. I’m always open to conversation and available for the guys. It’s important that we stay united and continue to support one another.”
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