"They tried to frame us, they want Ironi Tiberias to be relegated"

It was a nightmare summer for Ironi Tiberias. A few months after the end of the double contracts affair - for which it was punished with a deduction of 8 points last season and 6 more points in the upcoming season - the team continued to get into trouble. During the summer break, the prohibited substances affair exploded: according to the suspicion, the club's players received infusions beyond what is permitted before the critical game against MS Ashdod. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, the permitted amount is up to 100 ml, but the suspicion speaks of eight times that amount. The affair that shook Israeli football puts a big question mark over the club's future. While in Ashdod they are applying pressure and hoping that the teams will not start the season so that the identity of the relegated teams will change, Tiberias owner Aryeh Kalmenzon feels that this is a deliberate harassment.

On the professional level, coach Eliran Hodeda - who led the team to promotion to the Premier League and to two great years in the top league - is expected to receive a heavy penalty. At the moment, Moti Krispel is filling his place, in parallel with efforts to locate an experienced coach who will work with him as a team. The uncertainty also deepens in the squad sector: no less than five players - Guy Hadida, David Keltjens, Eddie Gottlieb, Yonatan Teper and Sambinha - are currently suspended. Teper does not have a contract for another season anyway, but in Tiberias they hope that the other four will be able to return to activity soon.

Meanwhile, Ari Cohen (loaned from Hapoel Tel Aviv who played last season at Hapoel Petah Tikva), Bar Cohen (returned to the country from Araz Nakhchivan from the Azerbaijani league), Samir Farhud (arrives from Hapoel Be'er Sheva while carrying a suspension penalty following the Cup final events), Kais Ganem (arrives from Sheriff Tiraspol), Gad Amos (joins from Hapoel Tel Aviv after playing five seasons at Bnei Sakhnin) and the Gambian Mansour Badji (returns from Maccabi Jaffa, where he played for the last season and a half) have joined the team. The team will be able to add additional players only in the coming month, because as part of the punishment it received in the double contracts affair, the January transfer window will be closed to it. Together with the start of the season at minus 6 points, it seems that in its current situation it will be very difficult for Tiberias to survive.

"They want to relegate us". Alongside the fire and criticism, Kalmenzon remained alone in the campaign. His partner Miki Bitan was suspended in the double contracts affair, and recently the relationship between the two exploded following a suspicion of irregularities in their company and an investigation that began on the subject. Kalmenzon claims bias on the part of the Association, and believes that they are looking for the club with the goal of bringing about its collapse. Despite this, he remains firm and promises to do everything so that Tiberias stays in the league and brings honor to the city.

Difficult days are passing for you and Ironi Tiberias.

"I am handling everything there is. From the first of June I took the management on myself. Miki is suspended from the team and the club, and I am learning the things he handled. Everything will be fine".

You went through a serious affair of double contracts, and now an affair of prohibited substances. It does not add honor to you or the team.

"The infusion affair is related to the team and not to me as an owner. There is no doubt that it does not add honor to us, but we will deal with it".

You blame quite a few factors. What is your part, are you clean of guilt?

"When the affair hit the headlines, every hour an article came up against us. When at Maccabi Netanya they said they did exactly the same thing, one article came up and that's it. This is bias. Even before they filed an indictment, they already suspended a coach and players, caused sponsors to flee and destroyed our training camp. If it's exactly the same story as in Netanya, why are we in the headlines all day and they are not? People on behalf of the Association became judges and executioners. Not to mention the investigation regarding the Association chairman - I'd better be silent".

What do you think the team's punishment will be in the end?

"As long as we stay in the Premier League - we won. Many factors want to relegate us, and if they don't succeed, that's our victory. Let it be clear: everyone understands that there will be no relegation".

How can one prepare for the upcoming season in such a situation?

"In the most unhealthy and most difficult way. We did it last season too and showed that we don't break. We are made of different stuff. They buried us last season with the point deduction and we stayed, and we will do it this time too".

Is Tiberias capable of surviving in the league with all the problems?

"If we don't absorb another point deduction - yes. If we absorb another point deduction - no".

Eliran Hodeda, one of your trusted people, is expected to receive a long suspension. Do you have a replacement?

"At the moment Moti Krispel has taken the reins. Eliran is suspended and we will wait for the verdict. There was one hearing and he has been suspended for a month and a half, which is completely delusional".

How disappointed are you with the attitude towards the club?

"Everyone counted on us to go down last season, and our staying annoyed a lot of people. You see who is stirring and trying to do everything so that we go down - even in the discussions, when he is suspended, he makes comments. They understand the connection between everyone, it's not a coincidence and we will see it in court. They started with prohibited substances, talked about 15 players and suddenly reached five. They tried to frame us and blew it out of proportion. Everything is speculation, nothing is proven, and we will dismantle it in court".

Also with your partner, Miki Bitan, there is a mess. What is the story there?

"It's a legal matter that is currently being investigated. Miki worked at the insurance agency and was never a partner. If he wasn't in football no one would have heard about it, it's like firing a senior employee in a private company. This is an affair that is being investigated and it is forbidden to add details".

What is happening with the home stadium? When will you enter it officially?

"Planning towards January, but I cannot promise that it will happen on that date".

What do you have to say to the Ironi Tiberias fans ahead of the new season?

"That we need them much more than ever. If they don't mobilize for the team, maybe there won't be an Ironi Tiberias".