Israel U20 World Cup goalkeeper Tomer Tzarfati is set to sign with Kfar Shalem on Sunday, after Sport 5 first reported the move. The deal came together, according to the report, thanks to the good relationship between coach Omer Peretz and Kfar Shalem’s management, along with the channel’s exclusive reporting.
The story unfolded over a dramatic 24-hour period as Hapoel Petah Tikva held marathon meetings to decide which goalkeeper would compete this season with Omer Katz. The final two candidates were Roy Shashon, who played for Kfar Shalem last season, and Tzarfati, who belongs to Maccabi Netanya and played in the World Cup tournament for youth national teams.
Beyond footballing considerations, Petah Tikva also favored Tzarfati because his age would have helped the club fill its quota of under-23 players, a move that can help unlock special financial grants from the Sports Ministry. During the night between Wednesday and Thursday, Tzarfati and his representatives received formal contact from Hapoel Petah Tikva, with pressure applied overnight and a promise of a fair battle with Katz for the starting shirt.
By morning, Petah Tikva learned of the exclusive report that Kfar Shalem had chosen Tzarfati as its first-choice goalkeeper and had already reached contractual and financial agreement with his agent, Avi Naimni, who was then in Zagreb with his client Dor Peretz. Petah Tikva quickly understood the situation and withdrew. A club source said, “Once we understood that Kfar Shalem had sat down and agreed with Tomer Tzarfati, we pulled out. Until it was published, we did not know. Tomer is a great goalkeeper, and we wish him success at Kfar Shalem.”
