Confident Cohen begins third tenure with Betar

Eli Cohen, also known as the sheriff, holds his first training session as Betar Jerusalem coach.

By ALLON SINAI
betar jerusalem 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
betar jerusalem 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
The sheriff is back in town.
Eli Cohen, also known as the sheriff, held his first training session as Betar Jerusalem coach on Tuesday and spoke of his confidence of helping the yellow- and-black maintain its Premier League status.
Jerusalem is currently in 12th place in the standings, just two points above the relegation zone, losing its last three matches without scoring a goal, which resulted in Yuval Naim’s resignation last week.
“It is 10 years since my last time at Beit Vegan,” said Cohen, who began his third tenure at the club on Tuesday after guiding it to the championship in 1996/97 and saving it from relegation in 2001/02.
“I feel like I’ve returned home. Regardless of where I’ve worked, Betar has always been close to my heart. We have good players and I believe in them.
“This squad of players is good enough to finish in the top half of the table and I want to help them regain their lost confidence so that we can guide the club to safety.”
Cohen, whose first match in charge will be against Maccabi Tel Aviv at Teddy Stadium on Monday, hasn’t coached in almost three years since spending five months at Ironi Kiryat Shmona during the 2008/09 campaign at the end of which the club was eventually relegated to the National League.
Bnei Lod, which effectively ended Naim’s time as Betar coach by shocking Jerusalem in the State Cup last 32, was rewarded with a home tie against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the draw for the round of 16 on Tuesday.
Kiryat Shmona, which is still dreaming of claiming an unprecedented treble, hosts Maccabi Netanya in the only all-Premier League showdown in the last 16.
In other ties: Betar Kfar Saba, the only remaining third-division team in the draw, hosts Hapoel Ramat Hasharon, Maccabi Petah Tikva visits Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Beersheba plays Maccabi Herzliya, Upper Nazareth faces Hapoel Ramat Gan, Maccabi Haifa goes to Hapoel Kfar Saba and Ashdod SC hosts Maccabi Umm el-Fahem.