Pini Balili
Encyclopedia
Pini Balili (born June 18, 1979) is an Israel
i-Turkish
footballer currently playing for Bnei Yehuda.
and was part of the youth system there before moving to Shimshon Tel Aviv
in his teens. It wasn't long before he caught the eye of Hapoel scouts who saw Balili as a missed opportunity so the club purchased his contract after just one professional season. His breakout did not come until the Dror Kashtan
era at Hapoel Tel Aviv
. Instrumental in the clubs success in the UEFA Cup
, Balili found himself featuring for the national team as well. After the 2002–03 season, Hapoel decided to cut wages and Pini left for Turkish
club Istanbulspor.
. In 2006, Sivasspor
applied for Turkish citizenship for Balili stating that he is a model citizen in Turkey and has full grasp of the Turkish language.
A somewhat religious man, rumors were started that a league match between Sivasspor
and Ankaraspor, was postponed during the 2006–07 on account of it coinciding with Yom Kippur
. The Turkish Football Federation
denied these claims. The story garnered some press coverage, namely because Israeli goalkeeper, Dudu Aouate
claimed that he was willing to play on the Jewish day of atonement.
On August 12, 2007 Balili was viciously tackled by Trabzonspor
's Egypt
ian defensive midfielder, Ayman Abdelaziz
. Allegedly, Ayman swore at Balili in Arabic
before the tackle and it caused the Sivasspor players to fight with the Trabzonspor players. A spectator then jumped onto the pitch and threw punches. Sivasspor players responded which led to a big fight on the field. Trabzonspor got punished for this incident.
. His lifestyle since his return has come into question by the press, after being seen out in town with Skeletor
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i-Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
footballer currently playing for Bnei Yehuda.
Move back to Hapoel
As a youngster, Balili grew up supporting Hapoel Tel AvivHapoel Tel Aviv FC
Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club is an Israeli football club based in Tel Aviv. The club currently competes in the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at the Bloomfield Stadium. To date, the club has won thirteen championships and thirteen State Cups, making them the country's second...
and was part of the youth system there before moving to Shimshon Tel Aviv
Shimshon Tel Aviv
Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C. was an Israeli football club based at the Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa. In 2000 it merged with Beitar Tel Aviv to create Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv.-History:...
in his teens. It wasn't long before he caught the eye of Hapoel scouts who saw Balili as a missed opportunity so the club purchased his contract after just one professional season. His breakout did not come until the Dror Kashtan
Dror Kashtan
Dror Kashtan is an Israeli former footballer and current manager. As a player, he represented the Israeli national team three times. As a manager, he took charge of numerous clubs as well as the Israel under-21 team, and, from 2006 to 2010, the senior national team...
era at Hapoel Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv FC
Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club is an Israeli football club based in Tel Aviv. The club currently competes in the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at the Bloomfield Stadium. To date, the club has won thirteen championships and thirteen State Cups, making them the country's second...
. Instrumental in the clubs success in 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...
, Balili found himself featuring for the national team as well. After the 2002–03 season, Hapoel decided to cut wages and Pini left for Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Istanbulspor.
Time in Turkey
Balili's Turkish league debut was sensational; on August 10, 2003, he scored a beautiful chip as his team surprised city rivals Fenerbache 3-0. troubles at Istanbulspor led to Balili being let go after just one season. Though he immediately signed with newly promoted KayserisporKayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
. In 2006, Sivasspor
Sivasspor
Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....
applied for Turkish citizenship for Balili stating that he is a model citizen in Turkey and has full grasp of the Turkish language.
A somewhat religious man, rumors were started that a league match between Sivasspor
Sivasspor
Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....
and Ankaraspor, was postponed during the 2006–07 on account of it coinciding with Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
. The Turkish Football Federation
Turkish Football Federation
The Turkish Football Federation , also called the Turkish Football Association, is the governing body of football in Turkey. It was formed on 23 April 1923. It organizes the Turkish national teams and the Turkish football league. By 2004, there were 4,956 football clubs organized in Turkey, and a...
denied these claims. The story garnered some press coverage, namely because Israeli goalkeeper, Dudu Aouate
Dudu Aouate
David "Dudu" Aouate is an Israeli footballer who plays for RCD Mallorca in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Aouate began his career at Maccabi Haifa F.C. at youth level, as an understudy to Nir Davidovich...
claimed that he was willing to play on the Jewish day of atonement.
On August 12, 2007 Balili was viciously tackled by Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
's Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian defensive midfielder, Ayman Abdelaziz
Ayman Abdelaziz
Ayman Mohamed Abdelaziz is an Egyptian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Misr El Makasa in Egypt. He had been out of Egypt for a very long time, after playing most of his career in Turkey.He has Turkish citizenship after long time spent in Turkey....
. Allegedly, Ayman swore at Balili in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
before the tackle and it caused the Sivasspor players to fight with the Trabzonspor players. A spectator then jumped onto the pitch and threw punches. Sivasspor players responded which led to a big fight on the field. Trabzonspor got punished for this incident.
Return to Israel
On the June 16, 2010 Balili signed a two-year contract with Bnei Yehuda reuniting with his former coach Dror KashtanDror Kashtan
Dror Kashtan is an Israeli former footballer and current manager. As a player, he represented the Israeli national team three times. As a manager, he took charge of numerous clubs as well as the Israel under-21 team, and, from 2006 to 2010, the senior national team...
. His lifestyle since his return has come into question by the press, after being seen out in town with Skeletor
Skeletor
Skeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
.
Honours
- Israeli Premier League (1):
- 1999–00
- 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...
(2):- 1999, 2000
- 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....
(1):- 2001–02
- Süper Lig:
- Runner-up: 2008–09
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players