Kiryat Shmona Coach Shay Barda Praises Team Character After Toto Cup Win

Kiryat Shmona continued their strong start to the season with a 1-0 victory over Tiberias in the second round of the Toto Cup on August 1, 2026. After the match, head coach Shay Barda acknowledged the team's resilience despite a less impressive performance. He credited goalkeeper Daniel for keeping them in the game during the first half and emphasized the importance of the win as a sign of the team's character. Barda noted the team had made nine changes to the lineup and stressed the need for time to build cohesion, adding, "There is much to improve, but it will be fine."

New signing Rofat Abdulzada, who scored the winning goal, shared his positive first impressions of Israel and the club. He explained that after discussions with his agent in Croatia, he chose to join Kiryat Shmona due to the club's promising environment. Abdulzada expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the team and advancing his career, calling Israel "an amazing country."

On the other side, Moti Krispin, assistant coach of Tiberias, reflected on the team's second consecutive loss. He praised his players' efforts but highlighted the challenges posed by squad rotation and fatigue, as well as a lack of quality reinforcements. Krispin mentioned ongoing efforts to strengthen the team and hinted at possible changes in the club's management. He also expressed hope for the return of suspended players, emphasizing their importance both on and off the field.

Tiberias player Ido Sharon echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the team's depleted roster and reliance on youth players. He remained focused on the game and optimistic about achieving the club's goals despite ongoing uncertainties related to upcoming decisions and suspensions.

The match and postgame comments underline Kiryat Shmona's determination to build momentum early in the season, while Tiberias faces challenges in squad depth and stability as they seek to improve.