Netanya Launches New Youth Soccer League With Former Players

The Netanya Municipality has launched a new neighborhood league for teenagers in grades 10-12, set to run from November to June. The league will feature eight teams representing different neighborhoods and areas of the city.

Led professionally by Slobodan Drapić, the initiative aims to place youth at the center, foster a sense of belonging and neighborhood pride, and create a sports, social, and values-based framework. Participants will engage in training sessions twice a week and compete in matches, receiving guidance from professional coaches and mentors from the soccer world.

Former player Eyal Golasa will serve as the head mentor, with other notable figures such as Amiya Taga, Chen Ezra, Shir Tzedek, Eden Shamir, Yarden Cohen, Dudu Biton, and Ravid Gazal also participating as mentors. These mentors will share their professional and personal experiences to help young players develop perseverance, responsibility, and teamwork.

The project, initiated by Deputy Mayor Shai Elgali and encouraged by Mayor Avi Salama, envisions soccer as a tool to connect youth with their communities, strengthen the community, and provide opportunities for personal growth, self-belief, and ambition.