Former Hapoel Beer Sheva Player Recalls Harsh Desert Life and Yossi Benayoun's Early Brilliance

Former Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Haifa midfielder Miroslav Bičanić reminisced about his time in Israel in a Serbian media interview, describing the challenging conditions in Beer Sheva, located about 100 kilometers from Tel Aviv in the Negev Desert. Bičanić, who played for Beer Sheva in the late 1990s for four months before moving to Bnei Yehuda, recalled sandstorms, travel difficulties, and a feeling of being 'at the end of the world,' but also noted that these hardships forged resilient people.

Despite the tough environment, Bičanić and his family felt comfortable and respected at the club. He mentioned that his older son attended an Israeli kindergarten and that the club was accommodating to his needs as a foreign player. He characterized Israeli footballers as technically skilled and fond of attacking play, though sometimes lacking in toughness and competitiveness, which could affect results.

Bičanić specifically recalled being impressed by a 17-year-old Yossi Benayoun during a match when Bičanić played for Hapoel Haifa, stating that Benayoun 'tore us apart' on the field and clearly possessed the talent for a high international level. He also offered his perspective on a potential match between Hapoel Beer Sheva and his boyhood club, Dinamo Zagreb, advising Dinamo to take Beer Sheva seriously, referencing their previous elimination of Red Star Belgrade.