Club Owner Not Selling Due to Fan Protests, Says Close Associate
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former player Rafi Osmo stated that Maccabi Haifa's owner will finish the season as owner, dismissing fan protests as a factor in a potential sale. Osmo described the owner's long-standing contributions to the club and acknowledged recent professional struggles. He highlighted the strong fan support as the owner's greatest achievement and noted ongoing negotiations with potential buyers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Haifa's owner will finish the season as owner, according to close associate Rafi Osmo.
- Osmo stated fan protests are not influencing the owner's decision to sell the club.
- The club has been up for sale for a considerable time, Osmo acknowledged.
- Osmo highlighted the owner's significant positive contributions to Maccabi Haifa over the years.
- Despite recent struggles, stadium attendance remains high, showing strong fan loyalty.
- Osmo noted ongoing negotiations with potential buyers but declined to name them.
Former player and close associate of Maccabi Haifa owner, Rafi Osmo, stated that fan protests are not influencing the owner's decision to sell the club and that he will finish the season as owner. Osmo, who has worked with the owner since his playing days, described the situation as difficult and emotional for him personally, acknowledging that the team has been up for sale for a considerable time.
Osmo explained that while the owner appears emotional during games, his involvement ends when he leaves the stadium. He emphasized the significant positive contributions the owner has made to the club over the years, transforming it into one of Israel's largest. Osmo also addressed the team's lack of recent professional success, noting that such periods can occur even for major clubs, and stressed the importance of learning from these situations.
Despite the fan protests, Osmo highlighted the remarkable fan loyalty, with the stadium consistently full even during less successful periods, calling it the owner's greatest achievement. He believes the owner will remain in charge for the rest of the season, pointing to significant recent investments, including the potential acquisition of Israeli national team captain Eli Dasa, as evidence of his continued commitment.
Osmo indicated that negotiations with potential buyers are ongoing but declined to name specific parties. He expressed his personal difficulty in imagining the club without the owner, recounting his long history with Maccabi Haifa, from his youth club days to his role as team manager, and emphasized the owner's family-like approach to the club.
