Rafi Menco Out of Hapoel Emek Squad Amidst Professional Disagreements

Rafi Menco, a player for the Israeli national team, was once again excluded from the Hapoel Emek basketball team's roster for their recent loss against Galil Elyon. Although Menco dressed for a prior practice game due to an injury to teammate Lucas Goldberg, he was not included in the official squad for the latest match. Sources within Hapoel Emek indicate that Menco has been training separately from the main team and has been instructed to arrive early for gym sessions with younger players. This situation arises from disagreements within the team's professional staff regarding Menco's status, with some advocating for his inclusion in games. Hapoel Emek stated that Menco receives the same conditions as other players and that the club is awaiting an offer from another team willing to sign Menco and cover his salary, estimated at around $300,000. Earlier this month, Hapoel Emek's professional manager, Yonatan Alon, told Sport Channel that Menco is not part of the team's professional plans, describing the situation as uncomfortable but respecting Menco's contract.