Local Hoops: Hapoel J'lem signs Katash for 3-year stint

The 35-year-old proved his critics wrong last month when he led Gilboa to the BSL championship.

By JEREMY LAST
Oded Katash with trophy 311 (photo credit: BSL website)
Oded Katash with trophy 311
(photo credit: BSL website)
After three seasons without an appearance in the BSL final, Hapoel Jerusalem’s management are hoping the appointment of Oded Katash as club coach will result in a turnaround in fortunes.
Aside from a brief seven-month sojourn at Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2007, Katash has spent the last six years on the sidelines at Hapoel Gilboa/Galil.
The 35-year-old proved his critics wrong last month when he led Gilboa to the BSL championship, convincingly defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final.
Jerusalem, meanwhile, only managed to reach the BSL semis last season, losing to Katash’s Gilboa in the last four.
“Oded is an excellent coach who has proved himself at the highestlevel. We will work together in order to succeed and bring pride to ourgreat fanbase,” Hapoel Jerusalem’s management said in a statement.
“Oded signed for three years with the aim of building a sturdy base for the future together.”
Katash signed a contract with Hapoel late Saturday night and willreplace former Maccabi Tel Aviv assistant coach Guy Goodes at thecapital’s Malha Arena.
“I am very happy and excited to move to Hapoel Jerusalem. We aretalking about a big club with a great name in Israeli basketball,”Katash said.
“It was difficult for me to leave Gilboa/Galil after six successful years and I want to thank everyone there.
“I am starting a new chapter in Hapoel Jerusalem. I see a great challenge here and I hope to move forward along with the club.”