Hapoel Haifa Faces Setback After Toto Cup Loss, Owner Yoav Katz Expresses Disappointment

Hapoel Haifa suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Hapoel Kiryat Shmona on Saturday at Sammy Ofer Stadium, a loss that cost them a place in the Toto Cup semifinals. The club was pleased with their first-half performance but lamented their collapse after the 60th minute, a recurring issue the team must address. Owner Yoav Katz told Sport Channel that this was the fourth consecutive game where the team made critical mistakes and failed to maintain their first-half intensity, calling it a painful loss both professionally and financially. He had hoped the team could advance far in the Toto Cup this year, noting that reaching the semifinals would have brought nearly one million shekels to the club’s coffers, a sum now significantly reduced.

Injuries also affected the squad during the match, with Naor Sabag sustaining an injury that will be evaluated for severity and absence duration. Wahib Habiballah was sidelined last minute due to a strain during warm-up. New loan signing Itay Zeprani made his first appearance after recovering from injury, while Tal Naim and Tamir Arbel are expected to resume training soon as they recover. The club is also looking to finalize its roster this week. Jaiden Braaf, who entered the game in the 65th minute, struggled to make an impact, and the club has yet to decide on his future after observing him in the upcoming Toto Cup ranking match.

Hapoel Haifa is close to securing the return of striker William Agada for a second stint, following a strong previous season. Katz said the deal is nearly complete, pending final approval from the club’s owners. The club hopes Agada’s return will strengthen their attacking options moving forward.