MTA players spent their day off visiting wounded Israeli soldiers in three hospitals
For players of Maccabi Tel Aviv, a day off on Thursday meant an opportunity to visit with Israeli soldiers wounded in the current conflict in the south of the country. This morning team members Yuval Shpungin and Moshe Lugassi travelled south to Beer Sheva's "Soroka" hospital, where they did their best to bring a bit of cheer to the soldiers being treated there. They were joined by an additional Maccabi representative, assistant coach Kobi Alfasi, himself currently serving in the reserves called in during the fighting. In the afternoon, team-mates Yoav Ziv and Gal Alberman were closer to home at Petah Tikva's "Belinson" hospital and towards evening fellow squad members Dor Micha and Barak Itzhaki visited "Asaf Harofeh" hospital near Rishon Lezion.
All of the players at the various hospitals made the rounds of the wards, taking time to encourage the wounded soldiers and bring smiles to their faces, and handing out gifts compliments of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club. A particularly touching moment occurred at Soroka hospital, where the assistant director related that one of the soldiers requested to have his room decorated with Maccabi Tel Aviv scarves. The Maccabi players asked to visit his room and the encounter was a very emotional one for both the soldier himself and his entire family.
