Manashe Zalka: “It’s Sports, Not Life and Death”
Hadera’s Departure from the Premier League
Hapoel Hadera officially parted ways with the Israeli Premier League on Saturday evening after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Ashdod. The loss updated the standings in the relegation playoff, confirming Hadera’s place at the bottom of the table, which means they will compete in the Liga Leumit next season.
Zalka’s Commitment Amidst Challenges
Club icon and player Manashe Zalka addressed the situation following the match, stating, “I have a contract with Hapoel Hadera. It’s where I grew up, and in difficult times, you don’t abandon ship. I’m here, and we will gather ourselves. We will build for next season; it’s part of sports, not life and death. This is a sporting tragedy, and we need to keep it in perspective.”
Coach’s Reflections on the Season
Post-match, a disappointed Nimrod Kostika, Hadera’s coach, reflected on the challenges faced by the team: “It’s a tough moment for me, the club, and the fans we disappointed. It’s hard to summarize at times like this, but Hapoel Hadera is a strong club. We hope to recover quickly and return to the Premier League as soon as possible. This season, we lacked quality in our offense. We didn’t get relegated solely because of this game; our squad was very limited, and we were missing players. I arrived at the club in a difficult situation.”
Kostika noted the unfortunate lack of luck and commented, “In the end, the table doesn’t lie, and we deserved to be where we are. Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet the challenge.”
Ashdod’s Coach Expresses Satisfaction
Haim Silvas, Ashdod’s triumphant coach, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance: “We are at the peak of the battle, and this win relieves some pressure. We had a monkey on our backs needing to win at home, and we achieved that convincingly. The result is good, although I must say the match was a bit too open for my comfort. However, Hadera played aggressively, creating opportunities. We have quality players capable of finishing chances, and I am pleased with this result.”
Silvas added, “This is our fight, and we will win it. I would love to change clothes, rest for 20 minutes, and prepare for the next game against Sakhnin because we want to win there too.”
Player Highlights
Mohammed Kna’an, who scored two goals in the match, shared his feelings after the game: “I saw that all the teams we are competing with won. I’m happy about my goals, but more so that I could help the team secure three points. Losing every week is tough, and the next match feels like a final. At the end of the day, it’s football; you get excited for five minutes, then start playing and enjoy the game.”
Kna’an emphasized improvements: “I think our defense has improved. We concede less, which makes it easier for us to attack. We have more quality players, and I am glad about that. Nothing would make me happier than to stay in the Premier League; that’s my goal. We will celebrate a bit, recover tomorrow, and focus on the next game against Sakhnin.