Oh how Hapoel Tel Aviv fans wish they had E.T. the friendly alien as the owner of their club rather than E.T. the shady businessman who seized control of Hapoel last summer.Sure, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial struggles to communicate with human beings and probably has little knowledge of how to run a soccer club.However, it is hard to see how that distinguishes him from E.T. Eli Tabib, the Kfar Saba native and Miami, Florida, resident who has seemingly set out to destroy one of Israel’s proudest clubs.Hapoel supporters are surely hoping to wake up and discover that the past few months were no more than a nightmare after having it so good in recent years.It was always going to be a difficult season for Tel Aviv following the departure of heralded coach Eli Gutman and star players Eran Zahavi (Palermo), Gili Vermut (Kaiserslautern), Itai Shechter (Kaiserslautern), Ben Sahar (AJ Auxerre) and Vincent Enyeama (Lille).However, it is one thing to see your team struggle for results on the field and an entirely other to fear that the mere existence of your beloved club is in jeopardy, as Hapoel fans are feeling at the moment.When Tabib officially bought a 50 percent stake at Hapoel to join Moni Harel as a co-owner in the summer of 2010 it seemed to be a match made in heaven.Harel, a life-long fan, had been looking for several years for someone with whom to share the financial burden of running the club, while Tabib was searching for a way back into the soccer scene.He had been involved in Israeli soccer before, owning Hapoel Kfar Saba between 1995 and 2009, and crucially, he had the capital and craving to be involved with a big club.Harel also conveniently overlooked the fact that Tabib left Kfar Saba in complete ruin, something which he now surely regrets.Thanks to Tabib’s money, Tel Aviv managed to hold on to almost all of its stars ahead of the 2010/11 season and went on to progress to the Champions League group stage.But while Tabib’s influx of cash was helping the team succeed on the field, the clash of characters with Harel soon began to tear the club apart from the inside.As last season drew to a close, it became clear that the two-headed monster had to be separated and eventually Tabib surprised everyone by turning down Harel’s low offer of NIS 6 million for his stake, choosing instead to seize full control of the club.After taking a league title, two State Cups and also reaching the Champions League in the last two years, it was obvious 2011/12 would be a transition season.Trusted veteran Dror Kashtan was put at the helm and until just over a month ago he looked set to add a seventh championship to his unmatched resume.Hapoel seemed on course to race ahead in the title race after recording convincing victories against both arch-rival Maccabi Tel Aviv and reigning- champion Maccabi Haifa to move top of the standings.To say that everything has gone horribly wrong in the six weeks since would be a grave understatement.Defeats to high-flying Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Maccabi Petah Tikva were followed by disappointing draws against Bnei Yehuda and Betar Jerusalem, with a win over Hapoel Acre only providing a momentary respite.A draw against Hapoel Beersheba soon followed and it will be a while before Monday’s humbling at Hapoel Haifa will be forgotten.
What can be done for Hapoel Tel Aviv?
Sinai Says: There are no saints in the sad and sudden demise of Hapoel Tel Aviv, but it is Tabib who should shoulder almost all the blame for what has transpired.
Oh how Hapoel Tel Aviv fans wish they had E.T. the friendly alien as the owner of their club rather than E.T. the shady businessman who seized control of Hapoel last summer.Sure, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial struggles to communicate with human beings and probably has little knowledge of how to run a soccer club.However, it is hard to see how that distinguishes him from E.T. Eli Tabib, the Kfar Saba native and Miami, Florida, resident who has seemingly set out to destroy one of Israel’s proudest clubs.Hapoel supporters are surely hoping to wake up and discover that the past few months were no more than a nightmare after having it so good in recent years.It was always going to be a difficult season for Tel Aviv following the departure of heralded coach Eli Gutman and star players Eran Zahavi (Palermo), Gili Vermut (Kaiserslautern), Itai Shechter (Kaiserslautern), Ben Sahar (AJ Auxerre) and Vincent Enyeama (Lille).However, it is one thing to see your team struggle for results on the field and an entirely other to fear that the mere existence of your beloved club is in jeopardy, as Hapoel fans are feeling at the moment.When Tabib officially bought a 50 percent stake at Hapoel to join Moni Harel as a co-owner in the summer of 2010 it seemed to be a match made in heaven.Harel, a life-long fan, had been looking for several years for someone with whom to share the financial burden of running the club, while Tabib was searching for a way back into the soccer scene.He had been involved in Israeli soccer before, owning Hapoel Kfar Saba between 1995 and 2009, and crucially, he had the capital and craving to be involved with a big club.Harel also conveniently overlooked the fact that Tabib left Kfar Saba in complete ruin, something which he now surely regrets.Thanks to Tabib’s money, Tel Aviv managed to hold on to almost all of its stars ahead of the 2010/11 season and went on to progress to the Champions League group stage.But while Tabib’s influx of cash was helping the team succeed on the field, the clash of characters with Harel soon began to tear the club apart from the inside.As last season drew to a close, it became clear that the two-headed monster had to be separated and eventually Tabib surprised everyone by turning down Harel’s low offer of NIS 6 million for his stake, choosing instead to seize full control of the club.After taking a league title, two State Cups and also reaching the Champions League in the last two years, it was obvious 2011/12 would be a transition season.Trusted veteran Dror Kashtan was put at the helm and until just over a month ago he looked set to add a seventh championship to his unmatched resume.Hapoel seemed on course to race ahead in the title race after recording convincing victories against both arch-rival Maccabi Tel Aviv and reigning- champion Maccabi Haifa to move top of the standings.To say that everything has gone horribly wrong in the six weeks since would be a grave understatement.Defeats to high-flying Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Maccabi Petah Tikva were followed by disappointing draws against Bnei Yehuda and Betar Jerusalem, with a win over Hapoel Acre only providing a momentary respite.A draw against Hapoel Beersheba soon followed and it will be a while before Monday’s humbling at Hapoel Haifa will be forgotten.