Kickoff (Cape Town)
4 January 2009
Siyabonga Nkosi has done an about-turn and signed with Israeli club Maccabi Netanya.
The Bafana Bafana midfielder will join national teammate Bevan Fransman at the club coached by German legend Lothar Mattheus when the League resumes. Soccer in Israel is currently suspended due to the conflict raging in that Middle East country.
Ironically, Arminia Bielefeld, for whom Nkosi has been playing in Germany, are unaware of the player's decision and reported yesterday that the South African had gone Awol as he was not at the club when training resumed, whereas countryman Rowen Fernandez was at the session being conducted by coach Michael Frontzeck.
According the report on the club's website, they expected Nkosi back on Friday as he had recently indicated (in a KickOff.com report) that he was no longer interested in a move to Netanya, where he had been for trials.
Bielefeld added that they expected Fernandez , who is recovering from a torn cruciate ligament, to play a role in the second half of the Bundesliga season.
The Bafana Bafana trio of players based in Israel, Terror Fanteni, Tsepo Masilela (at Maccabi Haifa) and Fransman, may have to put their careers on hold due to the growing conflict between the Jewish state and Palestinian Hamas organisation in the Gaza strip.
Speculation is that Nkosi may have changed his mind after receiving a more lucrative offer from Netanya as Israeli clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to attract players from abroad due to the outbreak of fighting in the country.
One Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, which is desperate to replace its current batch of foreigners, has had offers made to overseas players rejected because of the security situation.
A Tel Aviv official said a deal struck with a defensive midfielder playing for a team in Italy's Serie B was rescinded shortly afterward because of the player's fear of living in the country. The club is trying to persuade the player and his family that it is safe to live in Israel.
"Even players with no résumés, who we would once easily bring [to Israel], don't want to come here," he said.
Ironi Kiryat Shmona has had a Croatian player cancel his arrival in Israel for tryouts because of the fighting.
Although the Israeli League only resumes on January 10 after a festive season break, the Football Association has not put a timeframe to their suspension and a worsening in the security situation in the country could have a medium to long-term affect on their football.
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