Voice Of Jewish Sport

Andrew Sherwood - Wednesday 10th 2010f March 2010

MILLET SPORT

PORTSMOUTH may be enduring financial problems here in England, but in Israel three of the country's best known clubs face an uncertain future after dscovering that they will be losing their financial backers. What's to blame for this? Poor ownership, poor spending? No, unruly fans. Alona Barkat has said he'll stop funding Hapoel Beersheba after supporters forced the car of maanger Guy Azuri off the road (as reported here last week). Over at Maccabi Netanya, German owner Daniel Jammer, who instigated Lothar Matthaus taking charge of the club and invested £16 million over the past three years, said he's had enough, saying: ""I don't feel appreciated, I feel that there is a lot of anger and hate... I need to enjoy what I do. For the first three years I enjoyed my time, and I don't want to hear curses or need to be protected, I think it is time to go". And then there's finally the case of Beitar Jerusalem, who's Russian owner Arkady Gaydamak, who's wanted on money-laundering charges, hasn't been seen in Israel for over a year.

BASKETBALL star Omri Casspi has established himself as one of the NBA's best young rookies of the year, though that hasn't prevented his coach Paul Westphal from dropping him for a third game over the weekend. Casspi's exceeded all expectations, averaging 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, though his past seven games has seen him average just 6.5 points. "I think that it's been pretty evident, not only in the games, but in our practices as well that Omri is really winding down his battery, so we're trying to help him recharge it a little bit, just give him some rest," Westphal said. Having been taken out of a game in January, player and coach has a heated dexchange with the Israeli left fuming. This time round was slightly different though. "He was respectful," Westphal said. "He didn't try very hard to talk me out of it. I think he probably knows that he needs some rest, but he wasn't jumping up and down, either." Nothing wrong with a bit of passion.

MILLET SPORT

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