Guy Tzarfati: "Hapoel Be'er Sheva can beat Red Star"
The former assistant coach of the Serbian champion was interviewed on 103FM ahead of the Champions League qualifying matches: "It is possible to beat them, but it is a difficult task." Regarding Kings Kangwa, Tzarfati noted: "He was very good, but we felt we needed players with a different profile."
Guy Tzarfati knows Red Star Belgrade well, dating back to his time at the club as Barak Bakhar's assistant. Ahead of the meetings between the Serbian champion and Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Champions League qualifiers (Tuesday, 20:30, Sport 3), Tzarfati gave an interview to 103FM and assessed that the Israeli champion is capable of beating the opponent.
"Hapoel Be'er Sheva can beat Red Star. It is a club with tradition and a home stadium, with many quality and experienced players, but history and Israeli football have shown that it is possible to beat them, as Maccabi Haifa did. It is possible, but still a difficult task."
Tzarfati also addressed the significance of the sale of Kings Kangwa: "There are two significant factors. At Turner Stadium, Hapoel Be'er Sheva has proven over the years that it can beat almost any club. The second is Kangwa, who was a key player and left on momentum. These things will challenge Hapoel Be'er Sheva, but there is still a young, quality squad that knows what to do. The task is difficult, but definitely possible."
Regarding Kangwa's period at Red Star and the reason he did not stay: "It's not that he didn't fit; he was very good. He started in all the most important games at the beginning of the season, but we had a large squad, and the staff decided to go with certain players. We felt we needed players with a different profile."
Tzarfati further said about Red Star: "It is the biggest club in Serbia, which buys and sells many players. It has many young talents who start there and are sold to big clubs all over Europe. Their coach, Dejan Stanković, was himself a great player. It is a powerful and very local club."
Tzarfati also explained the significance of the Champions League for Red Star: "History proved that they did not advance against us, Maccabi Haifa, so they replaced the coach. Their bread and butter is the league, where they take the championship easily. The gaps between competitions are huge, but to generate money and support, they need achievements in Europe, which is what they aspire to."
In conclusion, Tzarfati addressed Mohammad Abu Fani and Loizos Loizou: "I know that Abu Fani connected there excellently, and I am in contact with him. Loizou is a good player who scored his first goal this week, but ahead of him is Bukari, who has returned to the club. Loizou will have a hard fight for his spot. Maybe they will move him to the number 10 position, which could be good for him."
