Eilat's Liga Bet Football Team Pursues Historic Signings to Secure Promotion

Bnei Eilat, a new project in Israel's Liga Bet (third tier), is making significant moves to strengthen its squad ahead of the upcoming season. Following the signing of Gidi Kaniuk, the club is now negotiating with Gil Yitzhak, one of the top scorers in the history of the National League, aiming to offer him the largest contract ever seen in Liga Bet. A decisive meeting with Yitzhak is scheduled for June 29, 2026, to finalize the deal, with coach Kobi Refua applying strong pressure to secure his signature.

In addition to Kaniuk and potentially Yitzhak, Bnei Eilat has also reached an agreement with Ben Yehizkel from Kfar Shalem, who will join the team. Another prospective signing is defender Ofek Fishler, who played last season for Hapoel Afula and has experience in the Israeli Premier League with Hapoel Haifa. The club is clearly investing heavily, with ambitions to achieve promotion to Liga Alef (second tier).

An insider involved in the developments noted that recent years have been challenging for coach Kobi Refua, who has struggled professionally and personally in the National League. This has created a new reality where he must rebuild in Liga Bet by recruiting high-impact players. The insider emphasized that if Eilat, with its unprecedented budget for Liga Bet, fails to secure promotion this season, it would be considered a major failure. The club's aggressive recruitment strategy reflects its determination to rise quickly through the Israeli football leagues.