(haipo) After finishing third in the water polo league last season, Hapoel Kiryat Tivon is starting a new season with aspirations of advancing at the top and building a solid foundation for the years to come. The young squad, seven outstanding athletes, players who grew up at the club and are returning to it, and the new professional manager, Moshiko Hershkovich, are part of the plan to strengthen the senior teams and the youth department. The women's team is also in the picture, with a young squad and players who want to lead it forward.
Young players, returning players and foreign reinforcements
At the center of the team's preparations for the new season is a young squad, which includes seven outstanding athletes who train no less than 11 times a week. The club hopes that the investment and intensity in training will help the team progress and compete against its rivals at the top of the league.
Alongside the young talents, Kiryat Tivon managed to bring back to its ranks players who grew up at the club, including Yoav Randler, Uri Bozaglo and Maayan Nahari. They are joined by Slovenian player Yuri Beton, who previously played for the Slovenian national team and is expected to bring international experience that will contribute to the team.
The combination of young players and those who have already gained experience in the water is intended to help Kiryat Tivon establish a more competitive team. After third place last season, the goal is to improve on the achievement and get one step closer to the top.
A new professional manager with a long-term view
The process is led by Moshiko Hershkovich, who took on the role of professional director about two months ago, after three years at ASA Tel Aviv, where he served as the association's director. The move to Kiryat Tivon presents him with the challenge of building a roster and strengthening the professional infrastructure, alongside immediate preparation for the start of the season.
"We have a young team with seven outstanding athletes, who train 11 times a week," says Hershkowitz. According to him, this is a base from which we can progress and build a team that will improve from season to season.
The short time since he took office does not change the direction the club seeks to chart: to strengthen the senior teams, promote young players, and create professional continuity between the youth departments and the senior teams. The goal is not only to achieve results in the upcoming season, but also to ensure that the club can continue to develop in the years to come.
The women's group is also looking forward.
The professional work at Kiryat Tivon does not focus only on the men's team. The club also seeks to strengthen the women's team, which consists of veteran and young players, including outstanding athletes.
Kiryat Tivon hopes that the combination of the experience of the veteran players and the energy and abilities of the younger generation will allow the team to progress and display better ability throughout the season. Strengthening the women's team fits into the club's broader goal of expanding the player base and developing the water polo sport over time.
Nofar Hochberg returns to where she started
One of the standout stories heading into the new season is the return of Nofer Hochberg, who grew up in Kiryat Tivon and left the club a few years ago. During that time, she played in Greece and Yokneam, and now she is returning to Israel and the club where she began her career.
Hochberg, 25 and a student at the Technion, joins the women's team and is expected to contribute her experience. Her return illustrates the club's attempt to maintain contact with players who grew up there and allow them to reintegrate into the team where they developed.
The return of players who grew up in Kiryat Tivon is part of the concept that Hershkovich seeks to promote: creating a professional track that will connect the youth departments with the adult teams and allow local talents to develop and reach the highest levels of the industry.
As the season begins, Hapoel Kiryat Tivon is relying on a combination of a young generation, returning players, foreign reinforcements with international experience, and new professional management. After finishing third last season, the challenge now is to turn potential into achievements and advance towards the top of the Water Polo Premier League.