Hapoel Petah Tikva Eyes Young Striker to Replace Injured Riboliere

Hapoel Petah Tikva has sent well wishes to striker Frank Riboliere, whose season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL sustained from a tackle by Maccabi Haifa defender Nigel Lonwijk. Lonwijk is expected to speak with Riboliere to inquire about his condition.

Hapoel Petah Tikva does not believe the tackle was intentional but is angered that VAR officials did not review the incident, leading to no red card for Lonwijk. The club's CEO, Tim Plotkin, contacted the Israel Football Association's refereeing body to express his dissatisfaction and demand an explanation. The association cited a poor camera angle that prevented VAR from making a red card decision.

Twenty-one-year-old Ivaylo Enev, currently with Ludogorets, is the leading candidate to replace Riboliere. Ludogorets acquired Enev in January 2025 for 700,000 euros from Zilina. Enev, who can also play as a winger, scored six goals and provided assists in all competitions last season. Hapoel Petah Tikva plans to sign a foreign striker quickly, offering a net salary of $15,000 per month, following the acquisition of Hamido Keita.

Keita recently completed his debut training session, impressing with his performance. Teammates believe he will be a valuable addition and a suitable replacement for the sold player, Cheptipka Songo.