Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC
Encyclopedia
Bnei Sakhnin F.C. is an Israel
i football club based at the Doha Stadium
in Sakhnin
. They are the most successful Israeli Arab club in the country, having won the State Cup
in 2004.
(then the second tier) in 1997. In 1998-99
they finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved when Maccabi Jaffa, who had finished bottom of the top division, were relegated three leagues due to financial problems.
In 2002-03
the club finished as runners-up and promoted alongside fellow Israeli-Arab club Macacbi Ahi Nazareth, becoming the joint-second Israeli-Arab club to play in the top flight after Hapoel Tayibe
. Promotion was only won on the last day of the season, the club overtaking Hapoel Jerusalem when they won 1-0 away to Maccabi Kiryat Gat
, whilst Hapoel were held to a 0-0 draw at Hapoel Ra'anana.
Prior to their first season in the top division, Sakhnin were favourites to be relegated, and it was thought that Nazareth had a better chance of survival. Questions remained as to whether the squad that gained promotion would be able to compete at the top level, along with the added pressures not to become the next Hapoel Taibe (who were relegated in their first season in the top flight, and subsequently suffered financial problems leading to repeated relegations thereafter). They also lost manager Momy Zafran who resigned shortly after the club won promotion, replacing him with Eyal Lahman
. In addition, the club had to play games in Haifa
's Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
, as their home ground in Sakhnin was deemed unfit for the Premier League.
The club signed former Maccabi Haifa
striker Raffi Cohen and loaned another striker, Lior Asulin
from Maccabi Herzliya. Sagi Strauss
was brought in to mind the nets from Maccabi Petah Tikva. Despite the gloomy predictions, the club defied the odds, eventually finishing 10th, four points clear of relegation, whilst Nazareth finished bottom. However, the highlight of the season was the State Cup
victory, also a first by an Israeli-Arab club. In the final, Sakhnin beat surprise finalists, second division side Hapoel Haifa 4-1. The team gained a reputation for being a tough, combative outfit, similar in style to the Crazy Gang
period at English club Wimbledon
. Captain and club stalwart Abbas Suan
(he had been at the club since its formation, having been part of the Hapoel Sakhnin team since 1994) won particular acclaim, gaining a call-up to the Israel squad
, and winning his first cap in February 2004.
The cup win meant that the club became the first Arab
team to play in Europe, entering the UEFA Cup
. After beating Partizani Tirana
6-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, the club faced Newcastle United
in the first round. However, Sakhnin were beaten 7-1 on aggregate, including a 5-1 home defeat in a match played at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan due to security concerns.
During the 2004-05 season, with its stadium still under development the club played many of its home matches at Hapoel Nazareth Illit's Municipal Stadium.
During their spell in the top flight, several Sakhnin games were plagued by hooliganism. Despite chairman Ghnaim's stated mission to create a "cultural rainbow" from his football club, games against Beitar Jerusalem were particularly violent, at least partially due to the presence of Beitar's notoriously anti-Arab supporters; when Sakhnin won the State Cup, Beitar fans paid for an obituary to be printed in Israel's leading daily Yediot Aharonot, claiming that Israeli football was dead. On 29 January 2005 Sakhnin fans rioted during a home match (played at Kiryat Eliezer) against Hapoel Tel Aviv after a violent incident on the field between a team official and a referee, who had earlier had sent off two Sakhnin players. As a punishment, the IFA
ordered the club to play two games behind closed doors.
Despite a large cash injection made by Israeli businessman Arcadi Gaydamak
($400,000) in the hope of promoting peace and harmony among the citizens of Israel, and a return to their rebuilt home stadium (largely financed by the Emir of Qatar, hence the renaming to Doha Stadium
), Sakhnin were relegated at the end of 2005-06 season, finishing nine points from safety.
However, with one of the largest budgets in the division (around five and a half million shekels
), the club were amongst the favourites to return quickly to the Premier League, and did so by finishing
as runners-up to Kiryat Shmona
. In their first season back in the Premier League, they finished fourth, their highest ever league position, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup.
Problems due to political unrest in the region, did that leaders in the club asked to postpone matches in Intertoto cup in the Summer of 2008, Most of the stars of the team were sold, most notably Maor Buzaglo
who signed for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
by noted Israeli director Ram Loevy
.
The team is also the subject of the critically acclaimed 2010 documentary film
"After The Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United", which follows the team after they win the Israel State Cup
directed by American Christopher Browne
.
. Talks are currently ensuing over continuing the deal even though the chief executive of Cellcom
's Arab sector affairs, Suliman Diab, has left his non-executive post with Bnei Sakhnin to join Liga Artzit
(third tier) side Bnei Tamra.
The club's budget was bolstered on 15 June 2006 when Gaydamak announced that he would donate two million shekels to the club in hope that they will make a return to Israel's top league.
.
Big matches (especially those against rival club Beitar Jerusalem) can attract large crowds but toward the end of the 2005-06 season when the club was set to be relegated, the attendance at matches declined dramatically. The peak of fan attendance was the Israel State Cup final when Ramat Gan Stadium was filled with Arabs from Israel, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE who had all come to support the club.
), can claim a passport or permanent residency which would allow them to play with Israeli status.
Pieter Mbemba
Eric Gawu
Kostadin Hazurov
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i football club based at the Doha Stadium
Doha Stadium
Doha Stadium is the current home of Bnei Sakhnin.Located in the small Arab Galilee town of Sakhnin, it was built with public funds largely from the State of Israel and the Qatar National Olympic Committee, and was named after the Qatari city of Doha...
in Sakhnin
Sakhnin
Sakhnin is a city in Israel's North District. It is located in the Lower Galilee, about east of Acre. Sakhnin was declared a city in 1995. Its population of 25,100 is Arab, mostly Muslim with a sizable Christian minority. It is located on the site of the ancient Jewish town Sikhnin, which...
. They are the most successful Israeli Arab club in the country, having won the State Cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
in 2004.
Early years
The club was formed by a merger of Maccabi Sakhnin and Hapoel Sakhnin in 1991. They were promoted to Liga ArtzitLiga Artzit
Liga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
(then the second tier) in 1997. In 1998-99
Liga Artzit 1998-99
The 1998–99 Liga Artzit season was the last in which the league was the Israel's second tier, as at the end of the season the Israeli Premier League came into existence, replacing Liga Leumit as the country's top division...
they finished in the relegation zone, but were reprieved when Maccabi Jaffa, who had finished bottom of the top division, were relegated three leagues due to financial problems.
In 2002-03
Liga Leumit 2002-03
The 2002–03 Liga Leumit season saw Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Bnei Sakhnin promoted to the Israeli Premier League, the first time that two Arab clubs would appear in the top division .Maccabi Kafr Kanna and Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva were relegated to Liga Artzit.Hapoel Ramat Gan qualified...
the club finished as runners-up and promoted alongside fellow Israeli-Arab club Macacbi Ahi Nazareth, becoming the joint-second Israeli-Arab club to play in the top flight after Hapoel Tayibe
Hapoel Tayibe F.C.
Hapoel Tayibe F.C. was an Israeli football club based in Tayibe. In 1996 they became the first ever Israeli Arab club to play in the top division. However, they were relegated at the end of their first season in the top flight, and folded in 2003 after three more relegations.-History:The club was...
. Promotion was only won on the last day of the season, the club overtaking Hapoel Jerusalem when they won 1-0 away to Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Maccabi Kiryat Gat F.C.
Maccabi Kiryat Gat F.C. is an Israeli football team based in the southern city of Kiryat Gat. To date, the club's best achievement has been promotion to the Premier League as Liga Leumit runners-up in 2001, after holding their nerve to beat Hapoel Beit She'an on the final day of the season...
, whilst Hapoel were held to a 0-0 draw at Hapoel Ra'anana.
Prior to their first season in the top division, Sakhnin were favourites to be relegated, and it was thought that Nazareth had a better chance of survival. Questions remained as to whether the squad that gained promotion would be able to compete at the top level, along with the added pressures not to become the next Hapoel Taibe (who were relegated in their first season in the top flight, and subsequently suffered financial problems leading to repeated relegations thereafter). They also lost manager Momy Zafran who resigned shortly after the club won promotion, replacing him with Eyal Lahman
Eyal Lahman
Eyal Lahman is an Israeli football manager, and currently the manager of Maccabi Petah Tikva.-Biography:Born in Petah Tikva, Lahman joined the Hapoel Petah Tikva youth system, but left the club at 16 to join Petah Tikva-based Hapoel Mahane Yehuda. He returned to Hapoel Petah Tikva aged 18, but...
. In addition, the club had to play games in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
's Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
Kiryat Eliezer Stadium
The Haifa Municipal Stadium , more commonly known as Kiryat Eliezer , is a multi-use stadium in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Haifa...
, as their home ground in Sakhnin was deemed unfit for the Premier League.
The club signed former Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
striker Raffi Cohen and loaned another striker, Lior Asulin
Lior Asulin
Lior Asulin is a male Israeli footballer who currently plays as a striker for Hapoel Ramat Gan.- Maccabi Herzliya and Ariel Shaiman :A native of Ra'anana, Israel he grew up in the youth system of Maccabi Herzliya and it was there that he made the jump to Israel's highest league, Israeli Premier...
from Maccabi Herzliya. Sagi Strauss
Sagi Strauss
Sagi Strauss is an Israeli international football player. His brother in law is Roberto Colautti. Strauss han been transferred or loaned to a new team before almost every season of his professional career.-External links:* at IFA...
was brought in to mind the nets from Maccabi Petah Tikva. Despite the gloomy predictions, the club defied the odds, eventually finishing 10th, four points clear of relegation, whilst Nazareth finished bottom. However, the highlight of the season was the State Cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
victory, also a first by an Israeli-Arab club. In the final, Sakhnin beat surprise finalists, second division side Hapoel Haifa 4-1. The team gained a reputation for being a tough, combative outfit, similar in style to the Crazy Gang
Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang is a nickname used by the English media to describe Wimbledon F.C. during the 1980s and the 1990s.The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho behaviour of...
period at English club Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
. Captain and club stalwart Abbas Suan
Abbas Suan
Abbas Suan is an Arab-Israeli footballer from Sakhnin in the Galilee. As a footballer he was considered by many as one of the best Arab-Israeli players....
(he had been at the club since its formation, having been part of the Hapoel Sakhnin team since 1994) won particular acclaim, gaining a call-up to the Israel squad
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
, and winning his first cap in February 2004.
The cup win meant that the club became the first Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
team to play in Europe, entering the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. After beating Partizani Tirana
KF Partizani Tirana
Futboll Klub or Klubi Sportiv Partizani is an Albanian football club, playing in the capital, Tirana, and founded in 1946. Their first participation in the Albanian National Championship was in 1947....
6-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, the club faced Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the first round. However, Sakhnin were beaten 7-1 on aggregate, including a 5-1 home defeat in a match played at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan due to security concerns.
During the 2004-05 season, with its stadium still under development the club played many of its home matches at Hapoel Nazareth Illit's Municipal Stadium.
During their spell in the top flight, several Sakhnin games were plagued by hooliganism. Despite chairman Ghnaim's stated mission to create a "cultural rainbow" from his football club, games against Beitar Jerusalem were particularly violent, at least partially due to the presence of Beitar's notoriously anti-Arab supporters; when Sakhnin won the State Cup, Beitar fans paid for an obituary to be printed in Israel's leading daily Yediot Aharonot, claiming that Israeli football was dead. On 29 January 2005 Sakhnin fans rioted during a home match (played at Kiryat Eliezer) against Hapoel Tel Aviv after a violent incident on the field between a team official and a referee, who had earlier had sent off two Sakhnin players. As a punishment, the IFA
Israel Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
ordered the club to play two games behind closed doors.
Despite a large cash injection made by Israeli businessman Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Gaydamak
Arcadi Aleksandrovich Gaydamak, is a Russian-Israeli businessman, who was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honour. On April 29, 2011 the Court of Appeal in Paris acquitted him of charges of arms dealing...
($400,000) in the hope of promoting peace and harmony among the citizens of Israel, and a return to their rebuilt home stadium (largely financed by the Emir of Qatar, hence the renaming to Doha Stadium
Doha Stadium
Doha Stadium is the current home of Bnei Sakhnin.Located in the small Arab Galilee town of Sakhnin, it was built with public funds largely from the State of Israel and the Qatar National Olympic Committee, and was named after the Qatari city of Doha...
), Sakhnin were relegated at the end of 2005-06 season, finishing nine points from safety.
However, with one of the largest budgets in the division (around five and a half million shekels
Israeli new sheqel
The Israeli New Shekel is the currency of the State of Israel. The shekel is divided into 100 agorot...
), the club were amongst the favourites to return quickly to the Premier League, and did so by finishing
Liga Leumit 2006-07
The 2006–07 Liga Leumit season began on 25 August 2006 and ended on 26 May 2007. Ironi Kiryat Shmona won the title and were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history. Runners-up Bnei Sakhnin were also promoted....
as runners-up to Kiryat Shmona
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona F.C.
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona Football Club is an Israeli football club based in Kiryat Shmona. The club are currently members of the Israeli Premier League and play at the Ironi Stadium...
. In their first season back in the Premier League, they finished fourth, their highest ever league position, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup.
Problems due to political unrest in the region, did that leaders in the club asked to postpone matches in Intertoto cup in the Summer of 2008, Most of the stars of the team were sold, most notably Maor Buzaglo
Maor Buzaglo
Maor Bar Buzaglo is an Israeli football player who currently plays for Belgian Standard Liège and Israel national football team.-Club career:...
who signed for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In popular culture
The rise of the Bnei Sakhnin F.C. was the subject of a popular documentary filmDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by noted Israeli director Ram Loevy
Ram Loevy
Ram Loevy is an award-winning Israeli television director and screenwriter since the medium first began broadcasting in the country in 1968...
.
The team is also the subject of the critically acclaimed 2010 documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
"After The Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United", which follows the team after they win the Israel State Cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
directed by American Christopher Browne
Christopher Browne
Christopher Browne is a documentary film maker/director in the USA.He is noted for directing the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.Browne is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania....
.
Sponsorship
During the 2005-06 season, the club signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Israeli mobile phone company CellcomCellcom (Israel)
Cellcom is a major Israeli telecommunications company. Founded in 1994, most of the company's business is centered around wireless service...
. Talks are currently ensuing over continuing the deal even though the chief executive of Cellcom
Cellcom (Israel)
Cellcom is a major Israeli telecommunications company. Founded in 1994, most of the company's business is centered around wireless service...
's Arab sector affairs, Suliman Diab, has left his non-executive post with Bnei Sakhnin to join Liga Artzit
Liga Artzit
Liga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
(third tier) side Bnei Tamra.
The club's budget was bolstered on 15 June 2006 when Gaydamak announced that he would donate two million shekels to the club in hope that they will make a return to Israel's top league.
Support
The fan base of Bnei Sakhnin is smaller in comparison to other Israeli clubs. The majority of fans of Bnei Sakhnin are Arab IsraelisArab citizens of Israel
Arab citizens of Israel refers to citizens of Israel who are not Jewish, and whose cultural and linguistic heritage or ethnic identity is Arab....
.
Big matches (especially those against rival club Beitar Jerusalem) can attract large crowds but toward the end of the 2005-06 season when the club was set to be relegated, the attendance at matches declined dramatically. The peak of fan attendance was the Israel State Cup final when Ramat Gan Stadium was filled with Arabs from Israel, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE who had all come to support the club.
Current squad
As of 30 July, 2011Foreigners 2010-11
Only up to five non-Israeli nationals can be in an Israeli club squad. Those with Jewish ancestry, married to an Israeli, or have played in Israel for an extended period of time (e.g. Gustavo BoccoliGustavo Boccoli
Gustavo Boccoli is a Brazilian footballer. He is a versatile midfielder/forward who plays for Maccabi Haifa.-Career:...
), can claim a passport or permanent residency which would allow them to play with Israeli status.
Pieter Mbemba
Pieter Mbemba
Pierre Emanuel "Pieter" Mbemba is a Congolese professional footballer who plays in Israel for Bnei Sakhnin, as a centre back.-Career:...
Eric Gawu
Eric Gawu
Eric Gawu is a Ghanaian football player who, is playing for Bnei Sakhnin.-Career:Had a very good season at King Faisal Babes in the 2004-2005 Ghana league season but could not settle when he made a switch to Hearts of Oak for $60,000...
Kostadin Hazurov
Kostadin Hazurov
Kostadin Hazurov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a striker for Bnei Sakhnin.Kostadin has a cousin that also is a footballer - the forward on Pirin Blagoevgrad Borislav Hazurov.-Career:...
Boardroom
- Owner:
City of SakhninSakhninSakhnin is a city in Israel's North District. It is located in the Lower Galilee, about east of Acre. Sakhnin was declared a city in 1995. Its population of 25,100 is Arab, mostly Muslim with a sizable Christian minority. It is located on the site of the ancient Jewish town Sikhnin, which... - Chief Executive: Shahir Khalaila
- Non-Executive Director: Ahmed Amar
- Club Secretary: Gantus Nor
- Press Officer: Khalaileh Monder
Management
- Manager: Shlomi DoraShlomi DoraShlomi Dora is an Israeli football manager who currently acts as the manager of Bnei Sakhnin.-External links:* at IFA...
- Assistant Manager: Moamar Genaim
- Goalkeeping Coach: Moshe Halevi
- Fitness Coach: Marwan Riyan
- Spokesman: Adnan Tarabeih
Honours
- Israel State CupIsrael State CupThe State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
:- Winners (1): 2003-04
- Toto CupToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
- Runner-up (1) 2007-2008
- Liga LeumitLiga LeumitLiga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
:- Runner-up (2): 2002–03, 2006–07
- Israeli Premier League:
- Best finish: 4th 2007–08
Records
- Most League Goals: 61 Hana Farhoud (1995-2001)
- Most League Goals in a Season (individual): 16 Oren MuharerOren MuharerOren Muharer is a retired Israeli footballer who now acts as the manager of Maccabi HaSharon Netanya and also as assistant manager in Bnei Sakhnin.-Honours:*Liga Bet :**2007-08, 2008–09*Israel Beach Soccer League :**2008, 2009, 2010...
, Liga Leumit, 2000-01 - Most Goals scored in a match: 3 Samir Zampir v SK Nes Ziona, 6 March 1999 / 3 Wissam Isami v Hapoel Bat Yam, 21 May 1999 / 3 Oren Muharer v Hapoel Jerusalem, 31 October 1999
- Most League Goals in a Season (team): 56 1998-99