Sabah Coach Valdas Dambrauskas Opens Up Ahead of Match Against Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Valdas Dambrauskas, the Lithuanian coach of Sabah FC, demonstrated a unique openness and warmth during a recent press event before his team's match against Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva. After the press conference, Dambrauskas spent an extended period engaging with Israeli journalists during the limited time allowed for media presence at training, a rare gesture among coaches facing rival teams. He shared personal stories about Lithuania's Jewish heritage sites and recommended them for visits. Dambrauskas also recounted his two visits to Israel: once in 2011 with Lithuanian club Akers against Hapoel Tel Aviv, and another while coaching Lithuania's youth national team. He expressed admiration for two Hapoel Be'er Sheva players, Eliel Peretz and Igor Zlatanovic, saying he would gladly recruit them for Sabah if possible.

Dambrauskas praised Hapoel Be'er Sheva's football, particularly highlighting the team's performance under coach Ran Kojukh, which he has followed since 2017 when the club was a Champions League contender. Reflecting on Sabah's recent match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, he acknowledged the Israeli side's impressive play and emphasized the need for his team to minimize mistakes in the upcoming game. "I very much hope this time the match will be different," he said, showing respect and strategic focus ahead of the encounter.