Dudu Awat, Former goalkeeper, spoke today (Monday) in the new program of ONE live presented by Gidi Lipkin and Raz Amir, And referred, among other things, to Betar Jerusalem, his role in the Football Association, the Israeli national team, the leading goalkeepers in the country, and of course the championship fight in Israel, including the interesting championship race in the Spanish league.
Have you finally returned to live here?
“Hopefully yes, my life center right now is here, and I work with players, teams, all kinds of football projects.”
What has happened that you have been relaxing lately?
“I did not calm down, I wanted to lower my spirits, I was active, during the Corona period they talk about freedom of expression and demonstrations. I do not like people who are anti.
At the time, you talked about the sale of Betar and Jewish identity.
“People took it to a place of racism and I really am not a racist, I grew up in Upper Nazareth it is a mixed city, I think Betar is a special club that fights for its identity, there is no shortage of teams in the country, it happens in Bilbao for example only Basques play and nothing happens and the league continues It’s nice to see that the group has a Jewish identity. “Nothing has happened that will eventually honor 84 years of tradition and history.”
Tell us about your role in the Football Association.
I was asked to be part of the committee and I was happy to promote football in Israel, we were 5 members of the committee, Ohana was the chairman, we were a matter-of-fact committee, but after the changes and replacement of the chairman, Oren Hasson came with good will and the committee changed, went in a political direction and moved. I spoke after I went and said my words, I came to change, our committee worked matter-of-factly, but I see that today everything has changed. “
You brought Willie, how do you see this thing that is actually making fun of what you did before?
“That is why I preferred to be outside the committee, Hasson convened a new committee to find a coach, the committee that was before us that recommended that the professional manager should not be pretentious as a coach, it is our duty as the second committee to respect the recommendations of the previous committee that worked hard. The first condition that appeared in the report of the previous committee, that there should be no pretensions to the professional director for the artist. “
Hasson said that what matters is the plan that Willie built and not who will execute it, do you agree?
“As a committee, we recommended attaching an Israeli figure to Willy, because we did not know how long Willie would stay, and that did not happen. Hasson’s thought makes perfect sense, but can not accept that he was appointed as the senior coach. “He understands football and wishes him success, but there are coaches who could have staffed it without stopping the progress of the new projects that are still underway, but I’m sure he hasn’t invested much time in that.”
Do you remember the game against Denmark?
“Can not forget, 5: 0 at home, one of the blackest weeks, one of the hardest moments of Israeli football, was not pleasant but they were really better than us in every parameter. It could easily have been the worst game I have had in my career, but I was 20 and it did not break me just gave me motivation to get better. At the moment, the team of that time is different from today, but expects a very difficult game and the team cannot underestimate any opponent. “
What do you think are the chances of the team in the campaign?
“There is a good staff that combines young and old, but it is not an easy home, there is a difficult home, Scotland, Denmark, it is a difficult home, I think that if we succeed in getting good results at home there will be a chance to qualify.”
What do you think about the goalkeepers?
“There are good goalkeepers, but they work incorrectly in the country, refer to a professional manager and improve the coaches, there are good goalkeepers like Itamar Nitzan, Ofir Marciano and Boris Kleiman. I did not see Marciano and Kleiman because I did not follow, but I think Nitzan is in fantastic shape, even though Betar is not in the best season, but he is one of the reasons why they do not look worse.
“At the moment it is difficult for me to see, not only in my position but the Israeli footballer in general, it is difficult for me to see someone who will make a career like Haim Revivo, Yossi Benyon and Eyal Berkovich. “I have Zehavi and Lior Rapalov who I have no idea how he is not in the national team, but I very much hope that the project and the efforts will lead to football advancing and reaching the top leagues and not Poland or Belgium or Scotland.”
How do you see goalkeepers like Josh Cohen and Daniel Tennenbaum?
“If they can promote the league and be candidates for the squad, it is better for this goalkeeper to fill an important position and represent his country, as long as they are Jews and have the opportunity to play for the team, I am in favor, it will create competition, there are many talented goalkeepers A space that you can promote. ”
Do you think Tennenbaum should be the leading goalkeeper in the team?
“He must be on the team, he does a good job at Maccabi Tel Aviv, it can be a healthy freedom, and yes.”
Who do you think will win the championship in Israel?
I’m personally on the side of Maccabi Haifa, but there is no doubt that Maccabi Tel Aviv made a fantastic second round despite the last draw. I have no doubt that it will be close to the end and that the more mentally stronger staff will win. Injuries and distances also have an effect, but I think that Maccabi Haifa, after a long period of years without winning the title, the very fact that it is close is a step up. I really hope she wins. “
How do you think Maccabi Haifa will make the playoff jump in Money Time?
“Her first round was great, and every team, including Atletico Madrid who ran over in the first round, has a drop. Haifa is now coming back to itself, I have no doubt that they come prepared professionally and mentally, and that will bring them to be close with Maccabi Tel Aviv to the end and each team has its own decline. “
Who will win the championship in Spain?
“I think Barcelona, although Atletico Madrid is a very strong team with a formidable goalkeeper and a fantastic striker, I think at the end of Barcelona in its current form and the excellent momentum and the new president Laporta who put in special adrenaline. I know him personally, he is a brilliant man with extraordinary charisma, he has a good relationship with Messi and the rest, he has good relations with Pini Zahavi, Mendes and more and that is the brilliance he remains. I think he will keep Messi 100 percent, that is my feeling. “