Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Calls for Improvement After Narrow Win

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a second consecutive victory, defeating Kiryat Shmona 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a goal from Amir Ganah. The win moves Be'er Sheva to fourth place in the league standings as they head into a long break. Coach Ran Kozuch expressed satisfaction with the win but emphasized the need for improvement, stating, "We hold the ball a lot, but we don't create enough relative to that. We needed to use our energy to create much more." He added that the team has a good squad but must "raise the level."

Kozuch praised Ganah for his performance and continued development, noting, "He's taking it in the right direction and improving. I feel him improving." He also commended goalkeeper Ofir Marciano for his crucial saves. Regarding the contract extension of Miguel Vítor, Kozuch stated that he had discussed his needs with the player, emphasizing Vítor's value based on his footballing abilities.

Ganah dedicated his goal to his future mother-in-law and wished her a speedy recovery. He explained his goal celebration and discussed his personal improvement, stating, "I'm working not just to shoot from afar, but to diversify. When things work, confidence is gained." He detailed his goal-scoring move, which involved a feint and a shot into the near corner, an area he has been working on during the break.

Kiryat Shmona's coach, Shi Barda, lamented the loss, arguing his team deserved at least a point. "We pressured them here at Turner from the 30th minute and were worth at least a point. We managed to embarrass them several times, we didn't cancel ourselves out and played football." He acknowledged the team's struggles, with only one league win placing them just above the relegation zone, but expressed optimism, "It's a marathon league, patience is needed." Player Shi Ben David echoed the sentiment of missed opportunity, expressing pride in his teammates and confidence in their ability to secure points after the break.