Well heres some news about a player leaving, this is kinda bad, he was an important player....
Yossi Abuksis looking for a way out of Ashdod
By Asher Goldberg
Yossi Abuksis, one of Ashdod SC's big-name signings over the summer, could be on his way out of the club. Rumors that the former Israel international is looking for an exit strategy have been rife for the past few weeks but have stepped up over the past couple of days. Yesterday Betar Jerusalem boss Meir Fenigil admitted that Abuksis had been offered to Betar by the player's agent Yossi Sperling.
Abuksis looks out of place at Ashdod and even the presence of his close friend Haim Revivo at the club hasn't helped. The two were even reported to be estranged for a while, but are said to have made up.
Despite wages of $150,000 a season after tax, Abuksis hasn't come up with the goods and Ashdod has slumped into the bottom half of the table after six games without a win. Abuksis's poor form, the club's dire financial situation and the fact that its strongman, Jackie Ben Zaken, failed in his bid to win the municipal elections make the 34-year-old player's contract, which has another two years to run, look like an unenticing prospect for Ashdod.
That is where Hapoel Tel Aviv, Abuksis' previous club, comes into the picture. Abuksis left Hapoel with a bitter taste and threatened the club with a $1 million lawsuit for holding back past debts and UEFA Cup bonuses, but never went through with any legal action.
Hapoel's fans, who have good memories of the player, have begun pressing in recent weeks for the club to mend its fences with Abuksis and bring him back to Bloomfield. At first the club refused to even listen to the idea, but it too has been in poor form and resistance to the idea has been narrowed to one vote on the board.
Another reason for the club to court its former prodigy is that there is a good chance it may lose an arbitration case against Abuksis if he decides to go ahead with claims against it. A few weeks ago, Hapoel signed a new three-year contract with goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech after he agreed to drop similar claims and the club is believed to be willing to take the same route with Abuksis.
But Abuksis is not demanding just a three-year contract. He also wants Hapoel to make him part of its professional staff after he retires. So far the club has refused to deny or confirm negotiations with the player, but is believed to be looking for financing for a deal from businessmen associated with the club. Off the record, Hapoel says that a deal could be completed within a few days.
Meanwhile, Abuksis yesterday asked Ashdod coach Elisha Levi for a few days off training. Levi agreed after consulting with Ben Zaken and Revivo, who are currently vacationing in Turkey.
Ben Zaken said that he would talk with Abuksis once he returned to Israel. "Nobody's place in the team is taken for granted and nobody will be kept here against his will," Ben Zaken said. |