The club held a toast to mark the new year. Owner Edmond Safra greeted: "I follow the good work being done at the club, the fans' support brings me joy"
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Football Club held a Rosh Hashanah toast this evening (Wednesday) at Bloomfield Stadium, in the presence of the men's and women's team players, coaching staffs, club employees, former players, and our business partners.
Club owner Mr. Edmond Safra greeted attendees via video call: "Good evening everyone. I am following and, of course, thrilled to see the wonderful work being done at the club, and I hope we meet soon. I am very proud of our fans and their support for the club; it brings me joy and makes me miss you anew every single time. You are an example and an inspiration to everyone.
I will take this opportunity to wish us all a Happy New Year. It is a good opportunity for all of us to do some soul-searching in our personal lives, to think about where we can correct and improve. To the staffs, the players, and the women players, I wish great success in the many challenges ahead of them. A Happy New Year and hopefully we will meet soon. On my behalf, on behalf of my son Moise, and on behalf of all of us, a huge thank you".
Club CEO Guy Primor: "Sometimes, I feel that living a year in our country is equivalent to a decade. We have been through a lot over the past year, on all fronts. A tremendous amount of work has been done behind the scenes by incredible teams working around the clock to improve whatever is necessary.
The initial vision we have adhered to from day one is to be the most community-oriented, competitive, and innovative club - and there is not a single day that we do not work harder than the day before to achieve these goals.
We have here with us glorious former players who gave everything for the red shirt. You are the roots of the club; it is a great privilege that you are here, and I am glad to see you.
When I look at our vision, I see a similarity to the Rosh Hashanah blessing - to be the head and not the tail. We constantly want and strive to be the best at everything. We will always remain humble and full of passion, and every morning we will wake up to make Hapoel Tel Aviv better.
A big thank you to everyone who came here. To the sponsors who have become family, to the Safra family, than whom we could not have asked for better. Thank you to our amazing fans, whose every action is never taken for granted. We have reached nearly 20,000 season ticket holders - and this expression of trust is worth more than anything. Everyone who comes to the stadium enters with countless dreams and thoughts - and when we succeed in giving children, fathers and sons, women and girls moments of joy, we know that this is why we gathered here. I wish us an amazing year, health, success, and that we all stay healthy".
Dave Lubetzky, Owner and CEO of IBI Investment House, the club's main sponsor: "Good evening everyone and a Happy New Year. I am happy and excited to greet you here, at Bloomfield. A place that holds some of the most beautiful memories of my life - from childhood to the present day.
Hapoel and Bloomfield are for me a small island of sanity and normalcy amidst the Israeli chaos. A place of friendship, enjoyment, coexistence, and acceptance of the other. A place where, for at least ninety minutes, it doesn't matter much where you came from, what you believe in, or who you voted for. What matters most is that the ball goes into the right net.
We have the privilege of being part of a special period in the club's life: true infrastructure building, excellent people who came to manage and lead, and players whom until recently we could only dream of seeing in red. Most importantly - all of this is happening without giving up what makes Hapoel, Hapoel: the values, the community, and the understanding that this club is much more than a football team.
If the first two home games are any prediction for this year, I am forced to admit something that is unnatural for a veteran Hapoel fan: I am happy. And even - despite everything history has taught me - a bit optimistic.
I want to thank, of course, the Safra family, for your commitment, your ambition, and the respect you show to the history and identity of the club, while building a new and exciting future for it.
And to our foreign players - it is hard to explain how significant your decision to become part of Hapoel Tel Aviv is to us - especially at this moment in Israel's history. You didn't just join a football club. You joined a community.
I wish us all a good and quiet year, that we continue to be a club that wants to win but knows exactly what it represents. With all due respect to values, community, and optimism - we must remember that in the end we are Hapoel Tel Aviv, next week there is a derby, and the derby is above all else. Yalla Hapoel".
Team player Omri Altman: "Thank you to everyone who came; seeing the support and love we get from everyone is always moving. I want to wish good success to the women's team, which will start its journey in the Premier League tomorrow.
The previous year was full of moments of pride. Something new is being built here, and I think no one expected us to be where we are today. We waited for this for many years and shattered many glass ceilings. We are on the right track, and I wish that we will be the head—which is much beyond what we achieved last season. We want to take a step up as a club and as a community. May it be a good and joyful year for everyone - for our families, and of course for the soldiers guarding us. A big thank you to the foreign players who went through less easy times with us in Israel as well; I hope you are enjoying your time in the country. Happy holiday and thank you everyone".
Team player Shai Perl: "It's always exciting to be here and meet all the people who wrap this great club. We are starting our renewed journey in the Premier League tomorrow, and we will give everything to go far. I will take this opportunity to thank those who support us throughout the year. It's a privilege to be part of this community, and I hope we continue to excite and bring joy to everyone".
Shana Tova Hapoel!
