Former Hapoel Be'er Sheva Player Calls Israel Experience 'Hell on Earth'

Patrick Klimala, a former striker for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, described his seven-month stint in Israel as "hell on earth," recounting a series of traumatic events he experienced.

Shortly after arriving and moving into his new apartment, Klimala reported a home invasion by masked robbers, whom he pursued naked with a knife. Days later, he experienced the tremors of the earthquake that struck Turkey. During a match, he suffered a broken jaw and lost two teeth.

The outbreak of war significantly impacted him. "An alarm sounded around 5:30 AM," he recalled, "and I ran to the shelter. Shards of a missile fell on a mall opposite my house, and I saw the Iron Dome intercepting launched missiles." This experience convinced him he needed to leave.

"I contacted the club because I knew I couldn't stay there," Klimala stated. "I waited at the airport for over 20 hours before I finally managed to get a ticket and escape." He claims the fear for his life took a significant mental toll.

Klimala found recovery with the help of a psychologist, introduced by a boxer friend, who works with U.S. special forces and UFC fighters. "I finally started to regain a sense of stability," he said. "During therapy, I confronted childhood memories and broke down crying. I managed to calm my aggressive nature."

Klimala is currently playing for FC Seoul in the Korean league, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances. During his year with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, from January 2023 to January 2024, he made 23 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing one assist.