Hapoel Jerusalem Welcomes Back Injured Player for Bnei Sakhnin Clash

Hapoel Jerusalem is set to host Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday evening at Teddy Stadium, aiming for their first home victory of the season. The team, which secured a point against Maccabi Netanya in their last match, has yet to win at home this season, having lost to Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv. The significant team news is the return of player Eduard Chilufia, who has rejoined training after a nasal fracture. He will wear a protective mask and is expected to be available for the match, though his playing time will be limited. Meanwhile, the availability of Nedim Varešanović, injured against Netanya, and Shahrani Zubayro, nursing a minor strain, remains uncertain. Sunny Abdulsalam and Yonatan Lish are also out due to injury. The team's defensive performance against Netanya was praised, with Christ Tyehi noted for his midfield leadership. Hapoel Jerusalem acknowledges the challenge posed by Bnei Sakhnin, who are on a five-game unbeaten streak and have a strong defense, conceding only seven goals this season. Coach Lior Zada emphasized the need for patience and smart attacking play to break down Sakhnin's defense and secure a home win. He also noted the absence of key attacking players and the importance of Chilufia's return. Players Ohad Almogor and Ofek Nadir expressed the team's determination to win at home and return to a more direct, attacking style of play. They aim to finish the current period with a win before the international break.