Jerusalem Football Club Faces Dilemma Over Foreign Player Slots

Beitar Jerusalem football club is grappling with a "headache" over its roster of foreign players, as coach Almog Cohen must decide which seven will be eligible to play to secure a league grant. The team recently secured its second consecutive victory, defeating Maccabi Petah Tikva 3-1, with strong offensive performances from Omer Atzili, Giovansko Calo, and Sean Weissman. Tomer Yosefi also contributed significantly with two assists.

Despite the recent success, defensive issues persist, and the team was fortunate not to concede more goals. The return of defender Nana Antwi from injury is anticipated for the upcoming match against Hapoel Haifa, while Yarden Cohen remains sidelined until after the international break. The availability of new signings Alexis Serna and Uri Azoulay further complicates Cohen's selection process.

Previously, the decision of which foreign player to exclude was straightforward, but with the current squad, including players who have already seen significant playing time, the coach faces a more challenging task. The club's decision to dress only seven foreign players is tied to receiving a grant from the league administration for doing so. This means that for the match against Hapoel Haifa, one foreign player will be excluded from the squad, along with two other reserve players who were on the bench for the previous game.

Cohen acknowledged the competitive situation, stating, "The struggle is not just for the starting 11, but now also for who gets dressed, and that's how it should be in a big club." He noted that while excluding players like Liel Darai and Nevo Shadu might seem easy, soon even players who have played significant minutes this season may find themselves unable to dress for matches.