Former Israeli Soccer Stars Join National Team Project

Former Israeli national soccer team players Zahi Armeli and Yaron Perslani have joined the "Legends Project" in Hungary, an initiative by the Israel Football Association aimed at connecting past and present players. Both Armeli, who scored ten goals in 28 appearances for Israel, and Perslani, who played 20 times for the national team, expressed their excitement about participating.

Armeli stated, "This is something I never dreamed of. After my playing career and appearances for the national team, I didn't think I would be involved with them again." He thanked the Football Association and Ziv Solomon, who is leading the project. Perslani recalled a memorable match against Australia that ended in a draw, leading to a playoff against Colombia, and humorously mentioned a defender stepping on his head during the game.

Both players emphasized the importance of focusing on the game and leaving politics aside, a sentiment echoed by the current national team. Armeli shared an anecdote from 1986 where he changed his name to "Zohar Armeli" during a visit to a rabbi in Australia to show respect, illustrating his belief that only football matters on the field. "The chaos and politics don't interest me; we need to win on the field," Armeli declared.

Perslani added, "The Israeli national team is a legacy, and the fact that Zahi and I are here shows how important that legacy is. The team has a mission today more than anything else." He expressed confidence that their presence would help the team focus and perform, stating, "We will convince after the first game. We will give an answer on the field to everything happening around us."

Armeli also stressed the need for the current generation to move forward, saying, "There is a generation that can succeed. I am sure the players have learned from their mistakes against Austria, and it's not the end of the world, but just one game." He recalled one of his most memorable goals, a powerful header against Ireland in 1984.