9/7/20313: Hapoel Tel Aviv draw with Gdansk in final training camp friendly

Football:

Damari scores the equalizer for Hapoel (Hapoel Tel Aviv)

Hapoel Tel Aviv played 3 matches in their training camp in Poland. The first was an easy 3-1 win against Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia and the second was a tough 1-0 win vs Lech Poznan but today's game which was also their last at the training camp, was definitely the hardest as Hapoel just about escaped with a 1-1 draw with Polish team Lechia Gdansk. After a very boring first half, Gdansk were first to score through polish defender Jaroslaw Bieniuk in the 66th minute. Hapoel's equalizer only came in the dying minutes of the match when striker Omer Damari received a beautiful pass from Sean Malka, and then hit it first time into the back of Gdansk's net. Despite their "not so perfect" game today, it looks like their is a lot for Hapoel's fans to look forward to going into next season. Hapoels first competitive game of the season will be next Thursday against Bulgarian side, Beroe Stara Zagora in the Europa League's second qualifying round. One player who will probably not play in that Europa League tie next week is Hapoel's star midfielder Gili Vermouth who is still recovering from an injury that kept him out of action since the middle of last season. "I feel very good", said Vermouth, "but i need to listen to the medical staff at the club and to stay off the pitch for a little longer".

Mohammed Kalibat (wiki)

Bnei Sakhnin have managed to agree terms with star striker Mohammed Kalibat that will see him stay at the club for an extra year. Kalibat who is currently on loan from Maccabi Haifa was in talks with Maccabi Petach Tikva yesterday but the two sides couldn't come to a deal that was to the likings of the player, so he decided instead to extend his loan contract at Sakhnin. The 23-year-old scored 4 goals last season during the 23 games in which he participated.

Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona have made a deal with Israeli striker Barak Badash that will see him play for the northern club until the end of next season. Badash who played last season on loan at Belgium side Waasland Beveren had offers made to him by many clubs in Belgium but he decided to return to Israel instead.


Basketball:
Maccabi Tel Aviv made another signing ahead of next season as they came to terms with 22-year-old Jewish-American power forward Jake Cohen. Cohen played the last 4 years in the NCAA Southern Conference with the Davidson College Wildcats from North Carolina. In his last season in the NCAA Cohen averaged 14.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and was named "Southern Conference Player Of The Year". He is already familiar with some of the players in the Israeli basketball system having represented Israel at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B in Austria in 2010. "We have watched Jake all the way through his college career and also when he played for the Israel youngsters in 2010", claimed Maccabi's manager David Blatt, "He is a "big-man" who can play as a forward and also as a center. He has a very good attacking ability and is an outstanding marksman". Cohen who is currently a huge 2.08 meters tall will sign  4 year deal at the Tela Aviv team, but is currently playing in the NBA summer leagues with the Phoenix Suns. "It's official, I'm headed back to the Holy Land!", wrote Cohen in atweet this morning,"Could not be more excited to begin my professional career as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv".

Or Solomon with the ball for Israel (fibaeurope)

The Israel U20 National Team were beaten 87:59 in their U20 European Championship Division A opener by Latvia. Israel played a very strong game in the first 2 quarters, going into halftime only trailing by 5 points with the score being 41:36. In the second half the 150 spectators who turned up to watch the game that took place in Tallinn saw a very different Latvia team as Latvia finished the 3rd quarter with a 64:45 lead. Going into the 4th quarter Latvia had no mercy on the Israelis as they scored another 23 points with Israel only scoring 14 in reply.
Tom Maayan led Israel's scoring with 14 points and Or Solomon took an amazing 11 rebounds. Latvia were led by Ingus Jakovics who scored a massive 26 points.

Egor Koulechov in action for Israel (fibaeurope)

 Israel have another 3 games in their group in the tournament that is taking place in the city of Tallinn in Estonia. Israel's remaining group games include tough match-ups against Spain and Russia plus an easier one against Bulgaria.
Israel's Group Schedule:
 vs Russia , Thursday July 11th at 16:45
 vs Bulgaria , Friday July 12th at 14:30
 vs Spain , Saturday July 13th at 19:00

 The top 3 from the group will advance to the next round, meaning Israel will probably have to beat Bulgaria on Friday and hope to win at least one of their games against Spain or Russia in order to escape from the group.