My HaEmek: Updates from the Club

- Starting on the right foot - the side played their first match in the Winner Cup against Ramat Gan, a "home" game they were forced to stage in Kiryat Ata due to the refurbishment works at Gan Ner. The match ended in a 77:75 win full of character.

- Trying things out - even before the Winner Cup match, the side played two friendlies, in which they did lose to Kiryat Ata and Jerusalem, but came away with plenty of "study material" ahead of the season.

- The open training session - this year too we held the traditional open training session, attended by many children from Afula, the Gilboa and the Beit She'an Valley. The children and the rest of the club's supporters enjoyed balls thrown out to them, a meet-and-greet with the players, photos and autographs, and a treat of pizza.

- New investors have arrived - we were thrilled to welcome two new partners: Migdal, who have joined as an investor, and HaMizrach Car Marketing, the official importer of Land Rover in Israel, who will be investing in our Valley Business Club.

- Leaving no seat empty - now that the seat-reservation period has ended, we have opened season ticket sales to everyone! You are welcome to visit our website or our social media channels, buy a season ticket and enjoy an absolutely mad season with Hapoel HaEmek!

- Training camp - just before the start of the season, the side headed off for a three-day training camp in the city of Haifa. The players enjoyed the change of scenery, the activities outside their day-to-day world and, of course, plenty of basketball and preparation at the Romema Arena.

- An exciting visit from the north - the head of the Katzrin Local Council, Yehuda Dua, and the council's director general, Yishai Livshtein, came for an introductory meeting together with Hapoel HaEmek owner Gideon Yadin and the club's VP of content and business relations, at Idan Technology, Mor Arbel.

During the visit we got a close-up look at the excellent work being done, at the growth processes and the vision driving Katzrin forward. We quickly discovered just how similar our thinking is, and we believe the meeting can produce meaningful and positive collaborations.

And finally: greetings from the base!

Maor Shabbat, better known as "Galileo" the mascot, is serving in the Navy in Haifa as a deputy officer for ships' simulator protection.

Maor said:

"I connected with the club out of an understanding that it promotes the values I was taught at home, and I chose to take part in order to be part of the 'beyond basketball' side of things and to bring people a bit of joy as the mascot.

I wish us all a year full of good work, a year of routine and quiet and, of course, plenty of wins."