Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Praises Owusu After Dominant Win

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Kiryat Shmona on Saturday, with goals from Douglas Owusu, Emmanuel Boateng, and Omri Altman. Hapoel coach Eliniv Barda expressed satisfaction with his team's strong start and excellent second half, despite some less effective decisions after Kiryat Shmona switched to man-to-man defense. Barda highlighted the team's deep squad, noting that he aims for five substitutions per game but doesn't always achieve it due to the competitive depth.

Speaking about player Douglas Owusu, Barda stated that the player is far from reaching his full potential and can perform much better. He added that the team knew Owusu would be a valuable asset. Barda also commented on the reduced gap between teams in the current era of seven or eight foreign players.

Omri Altman reflected on the game, calling it a significant win that brought the team back to their previous level, while acknowledging room for improvement. He emphasized the team's quick control of the game and effective use of scoring opportunities. Kiryat Shmona's coach, Guy Barada, acknowledged his team's loss to a superior opponent, citing missed chances and two critical errors that led to their defeat. He stated the team's intention to learn from these mistakes and improve their performance, noting it had been a while since they last secured points.