Toto Tamuz
Encyclopedia
Toto Adaruns Tamuz Temile (born April 1, 1988), known simply as Toto Tamuz is a Nigeria
n-born Israel
i footballer
who plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
, his parents came to Israel in 1990, where his father, footballer Clement Temile
, played professionally for Beitar Netanya
. When the team ran into financial dire straits, and was forced to stop paying salaries, his parents reverted to working various odd jobs. His parents left Israel in 1991 to try to find gainful employment in Nigeria or elsewhere, leaving Toto temporarily with a team mate of his father. When it became obvious that his parents were not coming back for him, Toto was adopted (unofficially) by Orit Tamuz who cared for him and raised him, which is where his Hebrew
surname derives from. Although it is unclear if he formally converted to Judaism
, it was stated in a 2007 Ynetnews
article that Tamuz was raised Jewish, attending synagogue
on the holidays and performing kiddush
each Friday.
, Toto still did not carry full Israeli citizenship. His legal status in the country was indeterminable for many years until then Deputy Interior Minister Ruhama Avraham
, granted Tamuz an Israeli A1 visa granting temporary residence for a term of three years. After petitioning to FIFA
, and given that he has no other citizenship, Toto received special permission to play on Israeli national teams even though he still did not possess an Israeli passport, but only an Israeli laissez-passer. After his temporary visa expired, Tamuz was unable to play for the Israeli national team until he receives full Israeli citizenship, a process which could take 3 years. The Israel Interior Office had refused attempts to fast-track his application. However his eligibility was confirmed when his case was taken to the Supreme Court and after Tamuz began the formal naturalization process he was named in the Israel squad for games against England and Estonia in March 2007. Three-months later, Tamuz was granted full citizenship along with Argentine-born Roberto Colautti
after their respective applications were approved by Roni Bar-On
, Minister of Internal Affairs.
at Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C., where he made his professional debut during the 2005/06 season in a match against F.C. Ashdod
. His debut was electrifying and he made national headlines after scoring two goals during the match.
After officially signing with Beitar, Toto had to apply for visas to the Netherlands
and Romania
in order to join the club for their training camps since he possesses an Israeli Travel Document and not an Israeli passport which would not require visas.
's Omonigho Temile
and Dynamo Kyiv's Frank Temile
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n-born Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Early life
Born in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, his parents came to Israel in 1990, where his father, footballer Clement Temile
Clement Temile
Clement Temile is a retired Nigerian football player who is currently the coach of English side Kentish Town, who play at Step 5 of the English Non-League football pyramid. He is the father of Israeli international Toto Tamuz, who was raised by an Israeli woman after Temile, who was playing in...
, played professionally for Beitar Netanya
Beitar Nes Tubruk
Beitar Nes Tubruk Netanya , formerly Beitar Netanya, is a football club in Netanya, Israel. The club is one of the most successful youth academies in the country, competing in youth competitions at all age levels.....
. When the team ran into financial dire straits, and was forced to stop paying salaries, his parents reverted to working various odd jobs. His parents left Israel in 1991 to try to find gainful employment in Nigeria or elsewhere, leaving Toto temporarily with a team mate of his father. When it became obvious that his parents were not coming back for him, Toto was adopted (unofficially) by Orit Tamuz who cared for him and raised him, which is where his Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
surname derives from. Although it is unclear if he formally converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, it was stated in a 2007 Ynetnews
Ynetnews
Ynetnews is the online English language Israeli news website of Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet...
article that Tamuz was raised Jewish, attending synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
on the holidays and performing kiddush
Kiddush
Kiddush , literally, "sanctification," is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.-Significance:...
each Friday.
Legal status in Israel
Though most of his formulative years were spent in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Toto still did not carry full Israeli citizenship. His legal status in the country was indeterminable for many years until then Deputy Interior Minister Ruhama Avraham
Ruhama Avraham
Ruhama Avraham Balila is an Israeli politician. A member of the Knesset for Kadima, she has previously served as Minister of Tourism and Minister without Portfolio responsible for liaison with the Knesset.-Biography:...
, granted Tamuz an Israeli A1 visa granting temporary residence for a term of three years. After petitioning to FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, and given that he has no other citizenship, Toto received special permission to play on Israeli national teams even though he still did not possess an Israeli passport, but only an Israeli laissez-passer. After his temporary visa expired, Tamuz was unable to play for the Israeli national team until he receives full Israeli citizenship, a process which could take 3 years. The Israel Interior Office had refused attempts to fast-track his application. However his eligibility was confirmed when his case was taken to the Supreme Court and after Tamuz began the formal naturalization process he was named in the Israel squad for games against England and Estonia in March 2007. Three-months later, Tamuz was granted full citizenship along with Argentine-born Roberto Colautti
Roberto Colautti
Roberto Damián Colautti is a naturalized Israeli football striker who plays as a striker for Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Israeli Premier League, and internationally for the Israel national football team.-Personal life:...
after their respective applications were approved by Roni Bar-On
Roni Bar-On
Roni Bar-On is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Kadima and is a former Minister of Finance.-Biography:...
, Minister of Internal Affairs.
Playing career
Toto started to play organized footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
at Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C., where he made his professional debut during the 2005/06 season in a match against F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod is an Israeli football club, playing in the port city of Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team is the result of the union of two city rivals, Hapoel Ashdod and Maccabi Ironi Ashdod...
. His debut was electrifying and he made national headlines after scoring two goals during the match.
Beitar Jerusalem
Toto signed a deal with Ronen Katzav making him his agent. After declaring on numerous occasions that he was not interested in a big money contract, he ended up declaring his will to be transferred to Beitar Jerusalem citing moves made by the management of the club.After officially signing with Beitar, Toto had to apply for visas to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in order to join the club for their training camps since he possesses an Israeli Travel Document and not an Israeli passport which would not require visas.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | September 6, 2006 | Stadion de Goffert Stadion de Goffert The Goffertstadion or Stadion de Goffert , formerly known as McDOS Goffertstadion for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Nijmegen, Netherlands, located in the Goffertpark. It is home to football club NEC... , Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
4-0 | 4-1 | EURO 2008 qualifier 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group E -Standings:Key:*Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.Notes on the qualified teams:*Croatia secured qualification to the tournament finals on 17 November 2007 following Israel's 2–1 win against Russia, becoming the seventh team in the whole of the qualification stage to do so.*Russia... |
|
| 2. | June 6, 2007 | Estadi Comunal, Andorra Andorra Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of... |
1-0 | 2-0 | EURO 2008 qualifier 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group E -Standings:Key:*Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.Notes on the qualified teams:*Croatia secured qualification to the tournament finals on 17 November 2007 following Israel's 2–1 win against Russia, becoming the seventh team in the whole of the qualification stage to do so.*Russia... |
Honours
- Israeli Premier League (2):
- 2006-07Ligat ha'Al 2006-07The 2006–07 Israeli Premier League season began on 26 August 2006. It was scheduled to begin a week before, but was then postponed due to the 2006 Lebanon War. On 7 May 2007 Beitar Jerusalem, under businessman Arcadi Gaydamak, became the league champions....
, 2007-08Ligat ha'Al 2007-08The 2007–08 Israeli Premier League season began on 18 August 2007 and ended on 1 June 2008, with Beitar Jerusalem win their second consecutive title....
- 2006-07
- 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...
(3):- 2008, 2009, 2011
- 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):- 2009-10
- Israeli Premier League - 2010-11 Top Goalscorer (21 goals)
Personal life
Outside of the fact that Toto is the son of a former footballer he is also the cousin of Valletta F.C.Valletta F.C.
Valletta Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Valletta F.C. has the strongest support on the island...
's Omonigho Temile
Omonigho Temile
Omonigho Temile is a Nigerian footballer who last played for Valletta F.C..-Club career:Temile began his playing career at Nigerian football club Delta United from Warri. He started his professional career playing for Bulgarian side Cherno More in 2002...
and Dynamo Kyiv's Frank Temile
Frank Temile
Frank Temile is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for PFC Olexandria on loan from FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League...
.