Sof Podgourano joins Kortrijk after stalled Maccabi Haifa spell

Sof Podgourano will begin next season in the Belgian league with Kortrijk, after signing a four-year contract with the club. The move follows a disappointing season at Maccabi Haifa, where he played sparingly, especially after Argentine coach Diego Flores left the team.

In an interview with Belgian media, Podgourano said he discussed the move with Yila Batayi, and that Batayi’s view helped convince him. “Yila Batayi is a wonderful player. A person above and beyond on and off the pitch,” he said, adding that Batayi told him the transfer to Belgium and Kortrijk was “an ideal step” and gave him immediate confidence about the move.

Podgourano said he felt strong support from everyone at Kortrijk and that the decision came quickly. “Kortrijk is a milestone for me,” he said. “I am joining a physically strong team in a strong league. I wanted and needed this move.”

Batayi’s father, Kurt Batayi, who is an assistant coach at Kortrijk, said Podgourano had started out playing a lot, but after he refused to sign a new contract in Haifa, “things started to get harder” and he began receiving very few minutes. Kurt Batayi said he immediately saw the player’s potential, and that Yila was quickly convinced too, telling the club, “Take Sof with your eyes closed.”