Maccabi Tel Aviv Players Urge EuroLeague Officials to Return Games to Israel
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv players met with EuroLeague officials the CEO of the tournament and Diego Gian to advocate for the return of games to Israel. The players emphasized their commitment to playing at home, citing security measures like the Iron Dome and the importance of family safety. They highlighted the benefits of playing in Israel, including better training and family time, hoping to convince officials the situation is secure.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Tel Aviv players met with EuroLeague CEO and Competition Manager Diego Gian.
- Players urged officials to return EuroLeague and EuroCup games to Israel, citing security.
- Lorenzo Brown stated family safety is a top priority over basketball.
- Oshea Brissett described the benefits of playing at home with family.
- Bonzie Colson cited faith in the Iron Dome as a reason for his return to Israel.
- Ami Bitton reportedly assured players that the situation in Israel was safe.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and other Israeli basketball clubs are actively working to bring EuroLeague and EuroCup games back to Israel. A significant step was taken when the tournament's CEO and Competition Manager Diego Gian, visited Israel for a brief trip. They attended a Maccabi Tel Aviv match at Bloomfield Stadium and a EuroLeague opening night game at Menora Mivtachim Arena.
During their visit, the CEO of the tournament and Gian met with players from Maccabi Tel Aviv, the reigning domestic champions. The team aimed to convince the officials that the security situation in Israel is calm enough for games to resume. Players emphasized that their families' safety is paramount.
Lorenzo Brown stated, "As a parent, I would never take the risk of bringing my family, especially my son, into a situation that is not 100% safe." He added, "There is no amount of money that would outweigh this. Basketball is my passion, but in the end, it's just a sport. My family's security is always my top priority for me."
Oshea Brissett shared his perspective, noting the difference between being on the road and being home during a recent two-month period. "The ability to sleep, the possibility to do extra training and all those things, because we had the time to be here with the club and with our families," he said, highlighting the benefits of playing at home.
Bonzie Colson, who left Israel due to the war and returned this summer after two years, commented on the security situation. "There is Iron Dome and there is faith in it, and the fact that there is confidence that it will intercept all the missiles if something happens, does give confidence that everything will be okay. And that was one of the reasons why I returned," he explained. He also mentioned that Ami Bitton spoke with them and assured them that everything would be fine.
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