Ex-Maccabi Haifa Player Recalls Wild Boar Sightings in Israel
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa winger Danil Lesovoy reflected on his brief and unsuccessful time in Israel, admitting he was unprepared for the league's competitive level. He recalled being fascinated by wild boars roaming Haifa's streets and even going out at night to find them. Lesovoy stated that top Israeli teams could easily play in the Russian league.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Maccabi Haifa player Danil Lesovoy was unprepared for the Israeli league's competitiveness.
- Lesovoy admitted he was surprised by the challenge of the Israeli Premier League.
- He recalled seeing wild boars frequently in Haifa's streets at night.
- Lesovoy spent two and a half months without team training due to contract delays.
- He considered playing in European competitions a highlight of his time.
- Lesovoy believes top Israeli teams could compete in the Russian league.
Former Maccabi Haifa winger Danil Lesovoy has spoken about his unsuccessful stint with the Israeli club, admitting he was unprepared for the level of play in the Israeli Premier League. Lesovoy, a Russian-Ukrainian player who was considered Israeli, joined Maccabi Haifa on loan in February 2024 but left at the end of the season without making a significant impact.
Lesovoy described a two-and-a-half-month period where he was unable to train with the team after arriving in Israel in January, as contract negotiations dragged on while the team was in the midst of its season, competing in the Conference League, State Cup, and league. He noted that playing in European competitions against teams like Gent and Fiorentina was a positive highlight, fulfilling a childhood dream.
Reflecting on his time in Israel, Lesovoy found Haifa to be a "provincial" city compared to Tel Aviv, but he was particularly amused and fascinated by the frequent sightings of wild boars roaming the streets, especially at night. He and his wife even went out in the evenings specifically to look for them.
Regarding the Israeli Premier League, Lesovoy expressed surprise at its competitiveness, stating he initially underestimated it. He believed he could play "on one leg" but found the league to be very challenging and complex, admitting he was not adequately prepared. He later moved to Cyprus, where he felt better prepared for the league's demands. Lesovoy concluded that teams from the top half of the Israeli league could easily compete in the Russian Premier League.
