Elizur Ramla is coming back to Division I and has started preparations for next season. Noa Rekanati who won the championship with Hapoel Tel Aviv has signed as Eli Rabi's assistant coach, and Michal Epstein also left the newly crowned champions to join Ramla.
Elizur Ramla spent this season in D2 after winning the title in 04/05, but now they're back and its business as usual. The team agreed to terms with Michal Epstein and Noa Rekanati who are leaving Hapoel after an incredible championship run.
"I know Noa for many years, since she was an assistant coach at Ramat Hen where my wife played" said head coach Eli Rabi. "She really wanted to come back to Ramla and also to work with me, it was mutual and the connection was easy and fast" he said. Rekanati was an assistant coach in Ramla during the 99/00 season, when the team made the finals. Ramla fired its head coach at the time, Edne Dagan, after a loss in game 3 of the series and Rekanati led Ramla to the title with a win in game 4.
"I have no idea what's going to happen there, nobody does" Rekanati said regarding the team she's leaving, the championship team of Hapoel Tel Aviv. "I really hope that what we did there won't just be a sneak peak for Hapoel to women's basketball because it's a place with amazing fans who could take that team far" she added before we moved on to Ramla. "I hope there is continuation there but for me, going back to Ramla is a major promotion".
"Working with Eli, and just the fact that he wants me as his assistant is a great complement for me, he is the national team coach and I've known him for years" said Rekanati. "Ramla for me is like going back home. I haven't been there in years but the people there always made me feel at home and they're like family to me. I worked there for 2 years in D1 and 2 years with the youth department" she continued.
Rekanati is coming to Ramla following a championship season with Hapoel, where she was officially labeled as the assistant coach. However, anyone you ask on the team, from the head coach to the players and management would tell you Hapoel's coaching staff consisted of two head coaches, and no assistants. After a season like she had we have to ask, when will we see her as a head coach?
"Being a head coach is every coach's dream and I'm not saying I'm going to stay an assistant forever, but right now I have the opportunity to keep learning and progressing in the pace that society allows me" said Rekanati. "Other than Orna Ostfeld, there aren't any female head coaches in the league. Even though Lori Avidar & I were given the chance as assistant coaches, we don’t get the same opportunity the men do. I think that if I keep doing things my way, and keep learning from the people I work with, I will get there. I'm not in a hurry, I'm very young and I'm just really enjoying what I do right now. I was away from the league for two years, I have to prove myself again and I believe that it will come. Honestly, I'm in no rush."
Michal Epstein had a tough season with Hapoel, bothered by injuries she only played in 12 games (12.3 ppg) during the regular season and watched from the sidelines as Hapoel went on their amazing playoff run. In Ramla she's going to have to fight Ina Gourevitch for playing time, and the rest of the big names Ramla is sure to sign.
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