Beitar Jerusalem captain Arik Benado was hungry. For 20 minutes he had sat in the small room where the press conference was held, answering a plethora of questions: Yes, he was excited for the State Cup final against Hapoel Tel Aviv today; yes, he was looking forward to the encounter. But what he really, really wanted at that moment was only one thing: A crunchy, mini-baguette filled with salami and Dijon mustard - the caterer's speciality. Only after wiping his dirty hand on a napkin did he free himself entirely to answer serious questions about today's game in Ramat Gan. "What are you eating?" one journalist asked jokingly. "Don't you have any food at home?" quipped another.
Dear Football Association officials, if you organize a special press conference ahead of the Cup final, at least make sure you send people who appear a bit enthusiastic. Someone who can give us a quote or two we can use in the paper. Because with all due respect to coach Itzhak Shum, Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Eli Gutman and his articulate player Arik Benado, they are ill-equipped to provide journalists with headlines. In desperation, the Sports channel called up former Hapoel Tel Aviv player Salim Tuama to get a usable quote.
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"And may Shimon Gershon score an own goal that costs him the match," Tuama said, referring to his former teammate at Hapoel who crossed over to Beitar.
The ordeal started at 3 P.M. when Gil Levanoni walked on stage clad in a two-piece set with a purple tie, and cut a ribbon. He told the press excitedly that only 1,000 tickets remain and that singer Kobi Aflalo will sing the national anthem.
Later, Shum swore that he was excited for the encounter, though he had played at the Cup final twice as a player and had taken part once as a manager, only in another country.
"Our results in the league have nothing to do with our ability," Gutman said of his team's standing in the table, trying to convince himself perhaps. "We'll give it our best."
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