By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv Chairman Shimon Mizrahi sent an open letter to Maccabi fans, explaining the recent events, the challenges ahead, and the desire of the organization to return to the courts and resume its activities.
His letter comes a few days after the Israeli League decided to resume action in June, with no fans in attendance and reads:
“Dear fans,
As someone who has been faithfully accompanying the team for decades, I know how much we have been always determined to do everything and even more so that the continuity of games throughout the years will not be interrupted.
This was the case in the Yom Kippur War, in the first and second Lebanon wars, in the first and second Gulf wars, and in 2004, when despite the terrorist attacks in Israel, we did everything to make the Euroleague Final Four stay in Tel Aviv and not be taken to Moscow. So was this season, when we did not quiet down and worked until the last minute to continue our presence in the Israeli League and Euroleague games, all within the permits and regulations.
Needless to say, what resources were invested by us this season in building attractive lineups and coaches, which made us great and fun, and brought us to the top of the local league and qualifying for the playoff stage in Euroleague. All this until unfortunately, we had to stop playing because of the coronavirus crisis.
After the crisis broke out, in all the meetings that took place under the league manager, we constantly emphasized our desire for the continuation of the league games. Along with a large number of Winner League teams, we sought to clarify and examine a number of issues; The health of the players, the flight options and the return of the players who are abroad, the required period of isolation, the place of isolation, responding to the players’ demand for a few weeks training to prevent injuries, and to ask the teams to check who and how their players are going to return to the country and the meaning of games without an audience – all in order to build a suitable outline for the continuation of the games.
We will continue to do everything we can, within the existing limits, to re-position our beloved team, all the while also expecting to see what the Euroleague’s decision will be in regard to resuming action.
It was important for us to bring to your attention the facts and hope to see you soon in the court.
Shimon Mizrahi”