Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures Dramatic League Win, Eyes New Signings

Hapoel Be'er Sheva experienced a wave of relief following their dramatic 2-1 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan on Saturday, thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Eliel Peretz. This win prevented the reigning champions from dropping points in their opening league match of the season and helped lift spirits after their recent, equally dramatic elimination from Champions League qualifiers.

The team is now preparing for a league match against Hapoel Haifa on Wednesday, which is also the deadline for registering new players for the Europa League. Be'er Sheva is slated to begin their Europa League campaign on September 16th with an away game against Dinamo Zagreb. The club is actively pursuing three new signings, with the possibility of adding two foreign players. Among the targets are Brazilian attacking midfielder Alan, formerly of Portuguese club Moreirense, and a foreign center-back. If a foreign defender isn't secured, Idan Nachmias, formerly of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ludogorets, is a potential option. Israeli midfielder Maor Levy of Maccabi Netanya is also a long-standing target, though financial differences remain.

Coach Ran Kochav motivated his players before the match with a video featuring Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. The team, which played with several absent players due to injuries and suspensions, saw a league debut in the starting lineup for striker Amit Ohana, who scored the opening goal with a display of determination and talent. Center-back Itay Rotman, a surprise summer acquisition, also impressed, stating, "One day you experience it against you, one day for you, but I'm happy we knew how to lift ourselves today and proved that even in the final minutes we can score and win." Rotman also commented on his quick integration into the starting lineup, "I dreamed of this. Every player in the squad can take the spot. I worked hard for it and will continue to work hard for it."

Defender Jibril Diop, who faced some boos from fans early in the game due to his red card in the previous European match, received strong support from Kochav and Rotman. Kochav defended Diop, highlighting his excellent performance and maturity, and praised the majority of the fans for their support. "I think Jibril showed today that he is an excellent player and will help us a lot in the future," Kochav said. Rotman added, "Jibril is a man among men, he went through it amazingly in my opinion, he is an amazing player. And of course, we as players are always behind him."

Regarding the Europa League draw, which pits Be'er Sheva against strong teams like Juventus, Kochav acknowledged the challenge. "These are Champions League level teams. The prestige is much lower than the Champions League, but it's quite a competition, yes. We sometimes lose perspective. Goals? We will always strive to show our football, to show our abilities. I have great faith in this team, in these players. But it will not be easy. We see the history of Israeli teams, especially in the last two years in the Europa League, like Maccabi Tel Aviv. It's not simple. But I hope we succeed."