Voices
Israel has a long list of world-class football players
I disagree with Luke Alfred in his article, “What are Israel’s chances in European soccer?”, SA Jewish Report, 31 May.
Saul Kamionsky, Johannesburg
To claim that Yossi Benayoun and Ronny Rosenthal were not world-class does not reflect their talent as players.
Benayoun was so good, all the top English Premier League teams wanted him. He played for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal – a feat that surely means he was more than a half-decent player. He also won the UEFA Europa league with Chelsea, and made 231 appearances in the Premier League.
Rosenthal, who made 118 appearances in the Premier League, was a star for both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
There was also Tal Ben-Haim, who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, and made 189 appearances in the Premier League.
Israel, therefore, has produced a number of world-class players.