Its new General Manager Hapoel Tel Aviv, Giorgos Khinaswas hosted on EOK WebRadio and spoke about the high expectations that exist in the Israeli club.
Her former GM AEK Betsson emphasized that in Hapoel there is the ambition for the team to reach the Euroleaguemaking all these great transfers so as to conquer the Eurocup either to get wild card.
He said in detail:
On whether before accepting Hapoel Tel Aviv’s offer, he thought about the current situation in Israel: “I didn’t think about it. I had come to make an appointment to agree and as soon as I set foot in Tel Aviv and stayed for 2-3 days I understood everything. There is always a feeling that something might happen, but from a certain point it is a process of routine and habit.”
On how he sees this new chapter of his: “It is a very big challenge. When you’ve been in a team for 14 years, you’ve found your footing, you know where you are. The important thing is that you change and evolve. For me, this is a very important development. I hope it will be combined successfully, that is the goal of everyone here.”
For players who acquired: “Essentially after the middle of June until the Summer League we made the moves of Ragland, Motley and the Israeli “trunk”. We thought it was very important for a team like us with so many games in the season to have a bigger roster and very good Israeli players. We got the best Israelis outside of Maccabi. After the Summer League we went more specific, with transfers like Beverley and Campoclo. We were very patient, especially in the case of the second one, and we got the ones we want.”
For Hapoel Tel Aviv’s summer design: “I would say that two elements characterize the transfer period. First, we got the guys we really wanted and guys with the stuff the coach wants. Second and most importantly, I realize there is a “clunk” associated with the names, but we’ve built up tremendous chemistry. We have guys with attacking talent, guys who are very good defenders and we have a very good atmosphere between us. Names do not bring titles and successes, we have a lot of time ahead of us and we know that. Everyone in the club understands that we will go step by step, because we are also a new team. It requires a lot of work, for us it is necessary to go game by game, because we are in a new reality”.
On how difficult it was to convince foreign players to come to Israel: “At first it was difficult. On the competitive side, Hapoel is very attractive for every player, but the off-field situation is presented differently from reality. It is presented that every day you have fear and danger for your health, which is not true. We had to convince the children that they are safe and we will do whatever is necessary for them and their family. The difficult thing was to bring them. Once we brought them and they set foot in Israel, everyday life gave them a different impression, so everyone was calmer.”
On whether Hapoel will be ready for the official matches: “Most teams use the month of September as an extra month of preparation. We don’t have that luxury, because before the EuroCup we start with the Super Cup, which is the first title of the year. Together with the friendly against Aris on Thursday (12/09), we will be all set for the start of the year on September 21”.
Regarding whether participation in the Euroleague is in the management’s plans: “Besides one way, which is through winning the EuroCup, the second is through a wider cooperation effort, that is, for the team to try to get a wild card. That is why we are making moves for the stadium, which has 5.5 thousand seats. There are several discussions whether the team should move to a new headquarters of their own, or build something, or use Maccabi’s stadium, which belongs to the municipality. We have that in our plans, yes.”
On his transfer from AEK to Hapoel Tel Aviv: “The hardest thing is that from yellow I have to wear red now. I’ll get used to it. Joking aside, because it’s a very organized situation here and it’s a very high-level organization, it was very easy to change and I’m used to the routine and everything now.”
On what he keeps from his 14 years at AEK: “It’s a 14-year journey from the 2nd national team, that is, from the 3rd category. I experienced too many things. I will tell my two most extreme memories. One was from Kronos Agios Dimitrios in the Second National League, which was the last team in the ranking at the time, and the other is the conquest of the intercontinental in Brazil, which was the highest we could live. Too many memories, you always keep the good ones, the bad ones you leave in the back of your mind. It’s hard to forget what you’ve been through. The team has gone up, improved and I hope it will go even higher.”
Source: Sport Fm
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