Sagiv Jehezkel returned from a cheekbone injury on Thursday as he made a second half substitute appearance against Real Sociedad. The 29-year-old who joined Maccabi in the summer from Antalyaspor refused to talk about his departure from Turkey but said: “I experienced a complex period of time, I think the month after the injury I suffered was relatively short especially if you compare what I had to go through when I returned from Turkey. I spent six months at home and encountered quite a difficult period but it made me stronger and I understood a lot of things about myself. I am delighted to be here in Israel now and that I am back on the pitch playing again.”
Jehezkel, who couldn’t join a club and was waiting for a FIFA verdict to be released from the Turkish club that banned him following a goal celebration where he marked October 7th, added: “I learned how football means everything to me, twice as important as it was before” he said. “The uncertainty, to find yourself sitting at home, you expect something to happen but nothing does. I waited and waited before understanding that good things ultimately happen. I became a free player and signed for Maccabi which is a club like a second home for me and I am delighted it all went fine.”
Jehezkel, who previously joined Maccabi in 2016 but in three seasons spent mostly away on loan, said of his second tenure at the club: “It is coming full circle for me, as I am a lot more mature, experienced and value myself, the team and the club a lot more. I would like to play as much as I can and prove myself to show that I can play here at Maccabi.”
Jehezkel who fractured a cheekbone against Hapoel Be’ersheva and has now been fitted with a mask, said: “The first training session with the mask felt a bit strange but from day to day I began to get used to it and feel more comfortable wearing it.”
Jehezkel and the rest of his teammates will return to Teddy stadium to face Beitar where last weekend they recorded a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa but on the back of Thursday’s defeat to Real Sociedad in the Europa League. “I thin we deserved more that what we got” Jehezkel reflected, “But we already put that aside as we now have a massive game against Beitar before us. They are playing at their home, but we will be fully prepared to try and do everything t win this match. Beitar are a good team as everyone can see but we are Maccabi Tel Aviv and need to look at ourselves. We will go there wit our way to try and win the match”.
