Ex-Maccabi Haifa Player Recalls Wild Boar Sightings in City
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Former Maccabi Haifa winger Danil Lesovoy reflected on his unsuccessful loan spell in Israel, noting a two-and-a-half-month training gap before joining the team. He fondly recalled playing in the Conference League and expressed surprise at the high level of Israeli football. Lesovoy also shared amusing anecdotes about encountering wild boars frequently in Haifa's streets at night.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Danil Lesovoy, formerly on loan at Maccabi Haifa, described his time in Israel as unsuccessful.
- Lesovoy recalled being unable to train for two and a half months before joining Maccabi Haifa.
- The winger found the Israeli Premier League surprisingly competitive and complex.
- He shared fascination with seeing wild boars roaming the streets of Haifa, even seeking them out at night.
- Playing in the Conference League against Gent and Fiorentina was a highlight of his Israeli experience.
Danil Lesovoy, a Russian-Ukrainian winger who was on loan at Maccabi Haifa in February 2024, has spoken about his brief and unsuccessful stint in Israel. Lesovoy, who was considered Israeli, failed to make a significant impact and left the club at the end of the season. He told his native media that the transfer process was delayed, leading to him not training with a team for two and a half months while Maccabi Haifa was in the midst of its season, competing in the Conference League, State Cup, and league.
Lesovoy described his time in Israel as "not successful," with the only positive memory being playing in the Conference League against Gent and Fiorentina, calling the atmosphere of European competitions "amazing" and a childhood dream fulfilled. He contrasted Tel Aviv, a "huge metropolis," with Haifa, which he described as a more "provincial" but "green and beautiful" city. He expressed surprise at seeing wild boars roaming the streets of Haifa, stating that he and his wife were so fascinated they would sometimes go out at night specifically to look for them, encountering them almost daily after dark.
Regarding the level of play in the Israeli Premier League, Lesovoy admitted he was initially surprised, having expected it to be easier. He found the league to be "very competitive and complex" and was not adequately prepared. This experience led him to be better prepared for his subsequent move to Cyprus. He believes that top teams from the Israeli league could easily compete in the Russian Premier League.
