Maccabi Tel Aviv's newest player Avi Rikan was at the Team Store in Cinema City, Rishon Le'Zion where he met with supporters and signed his brand new jersey with his name and number for those fans who purchased it!
Since landing in Israel early Thursday morning and signing with Maccabi, Rikan has been extremely active: "Yes it's been a very busy 24 hours since I've been back in Israel and I already participated in a practice today. It's been a lot of fun to meet my friends and the professional staff at Kiryat Shalom."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BojlGKGro9c
Rikan also talked about why he returned to play in Israel: "I came back to Israel because Maccabi Tel Aviv is a European club in every way, shape and form as they want to advance in European competition. In Switzerland I played for a big team but the current situation was one where I couldn't continue with the club and I needed to find a new home and new challenge for myself. I'm really happy that I came to Maccabi Tel Aviv, a club that has a lot of ambition and wants to go to the next level.
I was away for a couple of years and it's great to be back. I received a bunch of messages from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and it's fun to be back, but I'll need to rest a bit in order to work even harder and to be the strongest that I can be."
On getting the number 22 jersey and the pressure playing for Maccabi, Rikan commented: "Every number that I would've gotten at Maccabi comes with great responsibility. There have been a lot of players who have worn many of the numbers and if I can give a third of what (Rada) Prica gave to the club everyone including myself will be happy.
I'm not afraid of the pressure or the expectations. I came to Maccabi Tel Aviv too give the maximum that I can. On Tuesday (against Viktoria Plzen) and throughout the season I'll be available to help with whatever needs to be done. It's a long season and once I get more used to the system and I get to know everyone I'll be to lend a hand even more.
It's not easy to succeed here as there are many good players at Maccabi. But I will work my hardest to achieve the targets and goals that we all have ahead of us."
