Nadiv Varassana Scores Hat Trick, Fulfilling Potential at Hapoel Jerusalem

Nadiv Varassana scored a hat trick in Hapoel Jerusalem's 4-2 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in his career. This was the first hat trick by a Hapoel Jerusalem player in the top league since 1971. Varassana, who joined the club at age 12 from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, has overcome numerous obstacles, including language barriers and security checkpoints, to reach this point.

Initially struggling with Hebrew, Varassana communicated through gestures and relied on teammates for translation. His journey was further complicated by frequent delays at security checkpoints when traveling from East Jerusalem to training sessions in the west of the city. To facilitate his passage, he carried a note explaining his identity as a Hapoel Jerusalem youth player, signed by the club's professional manager.

Varassana's career nearly derailed two years ago following an incident during a promotion playoff match where he was accused of assaulting a referee's assistant. While initially facing severe charges, video evidence presented by the club showed a less severe altercation, resulting in an eight-game suspension.

Last season, Varassana scored 19 goals, leading Hapoel Jerusalem to promotion. Despite interest from other clubs for a loan move, the team's management insisted on keeping him, viewing him as a key part of their strategy to develop and sell homegrown talent. Club officials expressed pride in his recent success, highlighting his hard work and humble demeanor.

Following the match, Varassana expressed his joy at helping the team win and credited a tactical shift by coach Lior Zada for the improved offensive performance. Zada, who previously coached Varassana in the youth system, praised his work ethic and potential, stating, "Nadiv is the player I loved coaching the most in the youth division."