Bnei Sakhnin Prepares for New Season as Coach Abuksis Reflects on Hapoel Tel Aviv Struggles

Bnei Sakhnin, a prominent Arab-Israeli football club, is gearing up for its sixth consecutive season in Israel's top league following a leadership overhaul that introduced a new chairman and management team. Khaled Dookhi has replaced Mohammed Abu Yunis as chairman, while coach Yossi Abuksis continues for his second tenure after joining the team in February. Abuksis described the challenges of rebuilding the squad from scratch, starting preseason with only ten youth players and gradually adding new signings, expressing hope for a striker to join soon. He emphasized his satisfaction with the club's respect and support but acknowledged the pressure to deliver results.

Reflecting on his previous coaching stint at Hapoel Tel Aviv, Abuksis revealed deep regret over the lack of success there, stating, "I would have died to succeed at Hapoel Tel Aviv. It hurts me." He recalled how the team struggled beyond just football issues, contrasting it with his later experience at Maccabi Netanya, where he led the team from last place to the upper playoff bracket. New chairman Dookhi acknowledged the heavy responsibility of succeeding Abu Yunis and expressed confidence after an early audit. Player Maron Gentos mentioned ongoing talks with fans, who are expected to return and support the team enthusiastically in the upcoming season.