Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Raanan Kuzuach Erupts at Players After Late Draw

Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Raanan Kuzuach unleashed a furious tirade at his players in the locker room following their dramatic 2-2 draw against Hapoel Haifa on Wednesday. The team conceded a penalty in the 95th minute, squandering a lead and settling for a single point. Kuzuach reportedly yelled, "Why did you fall back? Why aren't you following tactical instructions? Where is your responsibility? These are mistakes that must not happen." Players described the outburst as unprecedented, stating they had "never seen Kuzuach as angry as he was after Hapoel Haifa."

The team expressed disappointment with the result, noting that Hapoel Haifa secured their point with a long-range shot and a penalty, while creating few other chances. Frustration also stemmed from Kuzuach's own tactical decisions during the match, specifically substituting key players Javan East and Aliel Peretz. Some within the club felt Peretz, considered the team's midfield leader, should not have been removed.

Looking ahead, the club is focused on preparing striker Igor Zlatanovic for Monday's match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Additionally, Zahai Ahmed will return after serving a suspension from the cup final. The team also plans to discuss potential loan departures with players unlikely to see significant playing time this season.

Several players were absent from the squad, including Roy Levy, Yoni Stoyanov, and Itai Hazut, who is expected to be loaned out. The return of key players like Zlatanovic, Adrian Gric, Amankwaa Forson, and Ahmed could lead to further competition for places, potentially resulting in more players being loaned out. Besides Stoyanov, Hazut, and Ayalon Almog, who is set to leave, one or two additional players might be loaned out. The club indicated that the competition is not just for starting spots but also for making the matchday squad, with many players potentially facing the consequences.