Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Haifa thrilled to be making Milk Cup debuts

ISRAEL's burgeoning relationship with the Northern Ireland Milk Cup is being strengthened further this week with two clubs making their first appearance in the tournament.

Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Haifa are making their debuts in the Junior section against some tough opposition.

Both teams are from opposite ends of Israel, Beer Sheva from the south and Haifa from the north, but they travelled to Northern Ireland together at the weekend and are loving the experience so far.

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Lee or Shalgi, head of the Beer Sheva delegation, said the squad had endured a long 17 hour trip via Tel Aviv and London before arriving on the north coast to stay at the Breezemount Guesthouse.

He said the hospitality and welcome had been "wonderful".

"This is the first time the club will participate in the tournament and we are very happy to be here.

"Some of the boys have never been outside the Israeli borders before and they are very excited about being here and the challenge ahead."

Lee or said that preparations for this week had gone well. "We started to train one-and-a-half months ago and everything has been good so far.

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"For this specific team our expectations are high but we don't know anything about our opposition, Spartak Moscow and Brentford from England."

He said due to years of ambassadorial work of Shuki Frenkl, a great friend of the Milk Cup, everyone involved in youth football in Israel knew about the high standing the tournament enjoyed internationally.

"It is well known in our press and the youth departments of clubs. It is a great honour for us to participate."

Hapoel Beer Sheva are based in Beersheba and currently play in the Israeli Premier League.

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Since buying the club in 2007 businesswoman Alona Barakat, known as 'The Queen in Beer Sheva', has been on a mission to revive the club.

Also taking part in the Junior competition this week are the boys from Hapoel Haifa. The club has a fierce rivalry with Maccabi Haifa who won Junior tournament here in 2004.

Head of delegation Shai Finkelstin said: "Being here at the Milk Cup is a dream come true for me. For many years I have wanted to come here but it wasn't convenient to do so. I still can't believe I'm here.

"The boys are very excited of course. Their league finished in May and they had two weeks rest before we began out preparations in June."

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Haifa, whose nickname is 'The Sharks', face a tough baptism with games against Vaga of Norway and Plymouth Argyle.

"When you come to a tournament such as this your first goal is to win it," said Shai, who by day is a lawyer and who has been involved with the club for eight years.

"The goal is to give the players experience of European football, playing against physical and talented players. Each step in their development is a milestone. Working with young players is always very exciting."

Hapoel Haifa has won one championship in their history, back in 1998–99 and three Israeli cups.

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