Maccabi Rishon Lezion is trying to change and strengthen the squad, and may add a surprising name: Igor Kolshov, who currently plays for Kazan, and may return if he is released from the Russian team.
Kolshov, it will be recalled, signed during the season at the Russian luxury club, but did not play – first due to injury and then in light of the team’s busy staff. During the season a number of teams approached Kazan regarding the guard, who refused to release him.
Now, Rishon Lezion has entered the picture, with the guard himself interested in returning to play basketball. Kolshov is still bound by a contract with Rishon Lezion, which states that the team still has a right of first refusal over him. If he returns to the Oranges this season, the deal will expire at the end and he will be a free agent this summer.
The runner-up is very interested in Kolshov, especially in light of her short Israeli roster. Noam Avivi is suffering from a back injury and Nimrod Tishman has also suffered a number of injuries, so the return of Kolshov will give Guy Goodes the necessary depth, both in the guard positions and when it comes to the local cadre.
Kolshov, it will be recalled, received during the current season the approval from Fiba that allows him to be considered a local player in the Russian league. .
