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Champs in debt
Lior Klinger
,06/09/2006 |
Will our reigning league champion find itself dropping to D2 this season also? Hapoel Tel Aviv says no way. The team's been spending the offseason so far worrying about the debts to last year's team and preparing for next season at the same time. Dominique Canty has already signed with a different team and told 'Safsal' she's still waiting to be paid, Roi Izenberg has received offers from Europe but the owners say the debts will be taken care of by early next week.
A month and a half after winning the championship, a cloud of uncertainty hovers over Hapoel Tel Aviv and whether or not there's going to be a team there next season. The team owes several months' worth paychecks to the players, Israelis and foreigners, and to both coaches. Roi Izenberg says he is considering two coaching offers from men's teams in Europe but is in no hurry to leave Hapoel. "I really want to continue, we're going to play in the Europe Cup, and I'm looking forward to some interesting signings as soon as next week" he said. Izenberg says he's met with the team's key Israeli players from last year, Taly Noy, Merav Dori, Katia Levitzky & Nomi Kolodny, and hopes to see them all stay. Michal Epstein & Noa Rikinati signed in Ramla a few weeks ago.
The team's owners stated that while the team has had problems settling last year's debts, the budget for the upcoming season is already set. The money owed to the players is in possession of the city and is expected to arrive early next week. The 11th of June is said to be the deadline for transferring the money.
All these explanations haven't made it overseas to Dominique Canty, who is playing for the Houston Comets. Canty has already signed to play with the Polish Champions for next year, she's still waiting for payments from Hapoel and is running out of patience. "The club had told us on several occasions that they would be paying us the following day. This went on for over 2 months. Here we are in June, and I still haven't received what they promised me months ago. It's a total shame that a championship team has not received payments not only for the season, but for their accomplishments, which by the way are in the contract", she said. "I feel as if they've lied to me since day one and I believe I deserve better. Unlike the other players who left, I chose to stay and be more of a professional than management. I believed in my heart that we had a great group of players and that we could go far. I went through so much with this organization. We started off with issues at our apartment to not having a facility to play in. Yet through it all, I continued. I didn't want to let my team down," Canty continued.
"I truly loved playing in Israel the last 2 seasons, but this situation with Hapoel has left a bad taste in my mouth and bills to pay. I still have no idea as to when I will receive all that's owed to me or my agents. I've decided to head to Poland next season mainly because of the ongoing issues with collecting my money from Hapoel Tel Aviv. At this stage in my career, I can't afford to not be paid. I know that all teams in Israel are not like this, but I can't take a chance." Hapoel said in response that the team is aware of the debt, hopes to get the money in the next few days and is certain this situation will be resolved.
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