Hapoel Tel Aviv Player Jacob Toppin Expects Israeli Passport Soon

Hapoel Tel Aviv has traveled to Cyprus for their EuroLeague derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Thursday. The team is seeking a sporting revenge after a recent painful loss to their city rivals in the Winner Cup final. Hapoel's coach, Dimitris Itoudis, will aim to overcome the previous defeat.

Player Tai Odiase acknowledged the sting of the recent derby loss, stating that the team has reviewed the game and needs to focus on the upcoming match. He noted that Maccabi's playing style remains consistent, emphasizing the need for Hapoel to reduce their own errors. Odiase specifically mentioned the need to limit open shots for Maccabi's Daniel Theis and execute proper box-outs.

Jacob Toppin expressed his anticipation of receiving his Israeli passport soon, describing the process as long but nearing completion. He stated that the derby is very important to him and the team, regardless of his playing status, and that they are focused on winning. Toppin identified turnovers as a key area for improvement, noting that their previous high number of turnovers against Maccabi led to many points for the opponent. He believes that reducing these turnovers will be crucial for their success in the upcoming game.