Israeli soccer club Betar Jerusalem has enjoyed a successful
year, winning both a national championship and international victories.
Sharing the credit with the players is a legendary group of passionate
supporters, among them some of the country's leading political
figures.
by Simon Griver
Jews, Christians and Moslems each have their holy sites in Jerusalem.
However, a small corner of the city's suburb of Malcha is also
sacred to a fourth group of worshippers - fans of local soccer
club Betar Jerusalem. In 1997, in addition to winning the championship
trophy, Betar also clinched a coveted place in the UEFA Cup.
The club won its first-ever championship only in 1987, followed
by a second title in 1993 and its third win last season. It has
also won the State Cup five times - in 1976, 1979, 1985, 1986
and 1989. The club is renowned for having the country's largest
and most enthusiastic band of supporters, who are often compared
to the English champions Manchester United's in their boisterousness,
if not their numbers. Indeed, Betar has something else in common
with Manchester United: both teams rejected takeover bids by the
late English media magnate Robert Maxwell in the 1980s.
Moreover, because it is based in the country's capital, the team
enjoys strong support from leading political figures, including
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert.
Many well-known Israeli figures can often be seen cheering from
the stadium seats during the team's matches.
On the pitch, one man - star striker Eli Ohana - has won all three
championship medals with Betar. Now 33, Ohana captained the team
last year and scored 14 goals. Pundits agree that Ohana had his
best ever season, and his excellent form also earned him a recall
to the national squad where he scored vital goals in Israel's
World Cup preliminary matches for the 1998 competition in France.
"People seemed surprised that at my age I am still playing
so well," observed Ohana. "I don't know why. There are
many players several years older than me still going strong in
Europe's toughest leagues." In fact, Ohana has already enjoyed
a successful career in Europe. In 1990 he played for the Belgian
side Mechelen and was instrumental in their winning the European
Cup Winners Cup.
But younger Betar players now feel the need to prove themselves
in Europe's top leagues. Striker Ronen Harazi, who missed much
of the championship season through injury, has signed a four-year
contract with Salamanca, newly promoted to Spain's first division.
Full-back David Amsalem went for trials with English premiership
side West Ham United, where his fellow Israeli international team
mate Eyal Berkovic already plays. And midfield star Itzik Zohar,
on loan to Betar from the Belgian team Royal Antwerp, joined another
English premiership team - Crystal Palace.
With the loss of such stars, Betar will be hard put to retain
the Israeli championship and fight off the challenge from the
country's perennial leading teams Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel
Aviv.
However, Betar's newly appointed manager Dror Kashtan is the manager
who took the championship for Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1995/96. He
has brought leading Israeli internationals like Alon Harazi and
Nir Sevilia to Betar and retained the experienced Hungarian trio
of Ishtvan Pishunt, Stefan Hamar and Ishtvan Shalai.
Following an innovative custom of recent years, a choir greets
the team for home matches with a verse about each individual player.
Furthermore, the 3,500 seats which are being added to Jerusalem's
12,000-seat municipal Teddy Stadium, which it shares with local
rivals Hapoel Jerusalem, will boost the team's already fanatical
support and should ensure another successful season.