Moshe Sinai: What Hapoel Tel Aviv is missing to compete for the championship
The former star spoke on 103FM about the team where he became a legend: "I don't see anything extraordinary in the front line; they need one or two players to make the difference." He also shared his thoughts on the most impressive team of the season.
Moshe Sinai is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the history of Hapoel Tel Aviv. The former star, who won four championships with the club and currently serves as a development official at the Israel Football Association, appeared on Thursday's 103FM sports program to discuss his beloved team's ambitions, the needs of Eliniv Barda's squad, and his predictions for the season.
"Hapoel Tel Aviv is completely different today in terms of management and direction," Sinai noted. "The club has a vision for the future. Guy Primor, Omer Buxenbaum, and Eliniv Barda are an excellent combination. The team has returned to a very high level."
When asked if Hapoel Tel Aviv can contend for the title this season, Sinai was candid: "I will be honest: Hapoel Tel Aviv is a strong and organized team, but I don't see anything extraordinary in the front line. They are very strong defensively and tactically, but they struggle to create and convert chances. To make a quality leap, they need one or two players who can make the difference."
Sinai also addressed the performance of Omri Altman: "I really like Omri, but I don't see him maintaining a high pace over a long series of games. The team needs refreshing. After the departure of Loizos Loizou, who was a more brilliant player, they need reinforcements. Without them, the championship will be difficult. I won four titles and know that a season is exhausting, especially with European matches. If you don't have players who can make the difference, you will face problems."
Regarding physical management, Sinai added: "It is a matter of load management. Altman is not a kid, and he hasn't played a full season in recent years. If they manage his load using GPS data, he will be an asset. He is also amazing in the locker room, knowing how to accept authority and communicate with teammates."
On coach Eliniv Barda, Sinai said: "If they set a championship goal for him right now, he will be in trouble, but I don't think the club is stating that. If they give him time, he will achieve success."
When asked which Israeli team has impressed him most in European competitions, Sinai answered without hesitation: "I say this with a heavy heart—Maccabi Tel Aviv. They are the strongest and most pressing team right now. It starts with management. Maccabi Haifa is not in this discussion for various reasons, but the progress of Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem under Almog Cohen proves that proper work pays off."
In conclusion, Sinai highlighted a young player capable of a breakthrough: "Noam Goldberg from Maccabi Haifa is a prodigious talent, an '8' position player. They have recently promoted Lym Losky and Adam Grinberg. Maccabi Haifa is bringing up four or five players of this age, which is too many. Such talents need to be introduced gradually. Look at the paths of Dor Peretz, Gabi Kanichowsky, and Dan Glazer—all of them went through loan spells."
