Hapoel Haifa Plans to Rely on Young Talent Yaad Gonen in Upcoming Derby

Hapoel Haifa is set to open the 2026/27 season tomorrow with the Haifa derby in the Toto Cup, amid mixed feelings at the club. While the team has passed budget control and coach Haim Silvas will have an almost complete squad, key players Tamir Arbel and Itay Zafrani remain injured. The current roster is still considered incomplete for the Israeli Premier League opener, but the derby offers a chance to test the existing core and give opportunities to players not initially expected to start.

One such player is 20-year-old Yaad Gonen, a product of Hapoel Haifa's youth academy, who trained with the starting eleven and is expected to make a significant step forward this season, potentially securing a regular rotation spot. Among the four sought-after new signings, a striker, a winger, an attacking midfielder, and a backup left-back, Silvas plans to sign two or three foreign players, including one to compete with Gonen for the attacking midfielder role.

New foreign signings Cheick Keita (midfield) and Ariel Mendy (left-back) are expected to debut in the derby, with Dario Zuparic and Ivan Kricak leading the defense. Wahib Habiballah and Noam Cohen, recent summer additions, are also in contention for starting roles, while new signings Tal Naim and Sali Fahima are likely to begin on the bench.

Club owner Yoav Katz emphasized a cautious approach to strengthening the squad, stating, "My approach to reinforcements is 'slowly, slowly.' You need to assess what you have before signing players under pressure." He acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of municipal support, which affects the club's budget and competitiveness. Regarding ambitions, Katz said, "Every person and team should aim high, but some clubs have advantages over us. We are the only club not receiving any support from the municipality, which creates obstacles."

The expected starting lineup for the derby includes goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi; defenders Noam Cohen, Dario Zuparic, Ivan Kricak, Ariel Mendy; midfielders Naor Sabag, Cheick Keita, Yaad Gonen; and forwards Wahib Habiballah, Alon Turgeman, and Liran Rotman.