Local soccer: Mizrahi leaves Maccabi Petah Tikva for Cyprus's Apollon Limassol

By ALLON SINAI
Yossi Mizrahi joined Eli Gutman and Nir Klinger in the Cypriot league on Monday, signing with Apollon Limassol. Mizrahi, who guided Betar Jerusalem to the league title last season, leaves Maccabi Petah Tikva, which is currently in third position in the Premier League standings. Limassol claimed the Cypriot league title in 2006, but finished last season in sixth position and is currently only fourth, seven points behind leader Anorthosis Famagusta. Gutman's AEL Limassol is two points further back, with Klinger's AEK Larnaca in 11th position. "Cyprus has become a refuge for Israeli title winning coaches," Mizrahi said. "I'm in good company with Gutman and Klinger." Petah Tikva's assistant coach Ofer Fabian will guide the team in its match on Saturday against Maccabi Herzliya, but the team is planning to announce a long term replacement in the next couple of weeks. "Maccabi Petah Tikva will have a coach by the end of the international break," Maccabi chairman Shino Zuaretz said. "We haven't approached anybody yet and Fabian is also one of the candidates." It has been rumored that Hapoel Tel Aviv's under-fire coach Guy Luzon could return to Petah Tikva if he is sacked in the coming weeks.