Avi Nimni Urges Hapoel Be'er Sheva to Make Unprecedented Move Amid Kangwa's Departure

Former Israeli football star Avi Nimni spoke on 103FM's sports program on Wednesday night, addressing his son Amit Nimni's early professional career and analyzing the current state of several Israeli Premier League teams. Amit recently signed his first professional contract with Hapoel Kfar Shalem in the National League. Avi emphasized the importance of playing time for young players, stating that "there is no substitute for minutes on the pitch," regardless of the league's level. He praised his son, a 1.96-meter-tall striker, for his dedication and goal-scoring record in recent years, noting that Amit has been integrating well into his team.

Nimni also discussed the significant challenge Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces following the departure of key player Kings Kangwa. He described Kangwa and Lucas Ventura as the core of Be'er Sheva, warning that without them, the team would struggle to reach the top playoff tier. Nimni stressed the difficulty of finding a foreign player of Kangwa's caliber, estimating such a player would command a salary around 2.5 million euros. He called Kangwa's exit a "huge hole" for the club, highlighting Kangwa's leadership and strong connection with the fans.

Regarding Kangwa's move to Panathinaikos, Nimni acknowledged the substantial financial upgrade and expressed cautious optimism about Kangwa's chances in Greece. He noted Kangwa's prior success in Israel but also his struggles at Red Star Belgrade, suggesting that while Greek top teams may not be superior to Israeli ones, they are at least on par. Nimni concluded by implying that Hapoel Be'er Sheva must take unprecedented steps to attract a serious replacement and maintain competitiveness.