Kings Kangwa Reflects on His Impactful Two Years at Hapoel Be'er Sheva Before Moving to Panathinaikos

Kings Kangwa, who spent two successful years in Israeli football, recently concluded his tenure at Hapoel Be'er Sheva and officially signed with Greek club Panathinaikos. In an exclusive interview with Sport 5 on August 2, 2026, Kangwa reflected on his time in Israel, the influence of the security situation on his decision to leave, and his relationships within the club and league.

Kangwa was instrumental in leading Hapoel Be'er Sheva to their first championship in years and helped secure European competition qualification after a double-legged victory over Vikingur. Despite the club's owner Alona Barkat's efforts to retain him, Kangwa felt it was time to advance his career. He expressed gratitude for the support from the club, coaches, teammates, and fans, noting the many unforgettable moments, especially winning the championship.

He revealed that Maccabi Tel Aviv initially rejected him before he joined Be'er Sheva, which motivated him to perform exceptionally against them. Kangwa also mentioned his good relationship with coach Ran Koozuch, who believed in him, and his close friendship with teammate Guy Mizrahi. He addressed some controversies, including a finger gesture after scoring against Maccabi Tel Aviv, clarifying it was a two-finger sign, not three.

Kangwa acknowledged the impact of Israel's security situation on his decision to leave and expressed appreciation for the warm reception he received from fans across different teams, including rivals. He also shared that he learned Hebrew on his own and will miss the people and atmosphere in Israel. Looking ahead, he is excited about joining Panathinaikos, describing it as a good project and the right next step in his career.