Ahmad Saba'a
Ahmad Saba'a (or Ahmed Saba,[1] Arabic: أحمد سبع, Hebrew: אחמד סבע; born 24 May 1980) is an Arab-Israeli former footballer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ahmad Saba'a | ||
| Date of birth | 24 May 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Majd al-Kurum, Israel | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hapoel Bnei Zalafa (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hapoel Majd al-Krum | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–2002 | Hapoel Majd al-Krum | ||
| 2002–2003 | Hapoel Acre | 20 | (10) |
| 2003–2009 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | 149 | (61) |
| 2009–2013 | Maccabi Netanya | 124 | (51) |
| 2013–2014 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 6 | (0) |
| 2014 | Hapoel Ra'anana | 3 | (0) |
| 2014 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | 7 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Ihud Bnei Majd al-Kurum | 6 | (1) |
| 2015 | Hilal Al-Quds | 0 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Hapoel Kafr Kanna | 27 | (6) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2015 | Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum | ||
| 2016–2017 | Ihud Bnei Majd al-Krum | ||
| 2017 | Hapoel Umm al-Fahm | ||
| 2019–2020 | Hapoel Kafr Kanna | ||
| 2020–2021 | Hapoel Bu'eine | ||
| 2021–2022 | Ahva Kafr Manda | ||
| 2023– | Hapoel Bnei Zalafa | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Biography edit
Ahmad Saba'a was born in Majd al-Kurum, Israel, to a Muslim-Arab family.[2] His cousin Dia Saba'a is a footballer as well.[3] In 2010, Saba'a founded his own football school, operating in his hometown of Majd al-Kurum. The school has 180 protégés and its main goal is to bring local talent from Majd al-Kurum to the second and first division leagues in Israel.[4] He is a cousin of Israeli professional footballer Dia Saba.[5]
Club career edit
Hapoel Majd al-Kurum edit
Ahmad grew up in the youth ranks of Hapoel Majd al-Krum and made his debut for the senior side in 1997. In 1999-00 he was one of the main players in the club's historic promotion to Liga Artzit. He left Majd al-Krum in 2002.
Hapoel Acre edit
Ahmad moved to Hapoel Acre after signing a one-year contract in July 2002. Even though he played well for the club with 10 goals in 20 league games, he didn't extended his contract with the club.
Hapoel Bnei Lod edit
In August 2003 he moved to Hapoel Bnei Lod. He helped Lod win two promotions, the first came in the 2004–05 season when the club won Liga Alef, the next season the club won Liga Artzit with Ahmad as one of the factors for the team's success. In 6 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 61 goals in 149 league games.
Maccabi Netanya edit
On 20 January 2009, Saba'a signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Netanya.[6] His first goal for the club came against Sliema Wanderers in the UEFA Europa League on 23 July 2009. In his first season with Netanya he became the club's top scorer, a feat repeated the following three seasons. In June 2011 he extended his contract with the club for 3 more years under a new contract worth $390,000.[7] In September 2011 he was appointed as the captain of the team.[8] He was voted as player of the 2011–12 season while securing his position as the top goalscorer with 20 league goals.[9] On 4 November 2012 he became the first to score a goal in the opening game of the new Netanya Stadium as Netanya won the game 2–1 against Hapoel Tel Aviv.[10]
In 4 seasons with the club Saba'a scored 62 goals in a total of 153 games in all club competitions. Saba'a is in the top ten all time goalscorers of Maccabi Netanya.
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona edit
On 16 May 2013, after 4 years with Netanya he moved to Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona for a transfer fee of $120,000. Saba'a signed a two years contract with Kiryat Shmona.[11]
Hapoel Ra'anana edit
After a terrible half season with Kiryat Shmona, in January 2014 Saba'a moved to Hapoel Ra'anana.[12] One month later he asked to be released from the club.[13]
International career edit
After reaching the highest levels of Israeli domestic football, Saba'a has said that his goal is to one day play for the Israel national team.[14] He has never featured for any national youth football teams. On 18 March 2012 after a lot of media coverage on the fact that he has yet been called for the national team, Saba'a was quoted that he will not play for the Palestine national side - "I won't play for Palestine because I'm an Israeli player".[15]
Statistics edit
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Israel | League | State Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
| 2006–07 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | Liga Leumit | 29 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 13 |
| 2007–08 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 8 | ||
| 2008–09 | 31 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 18 | ||
| 2009–10 | Maccabi Netanya | Ligat ha'Al | 26 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 11 |
| 2010–11 | 35 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 18 | ||
| 2011–12 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 22 | ||
| 2012–13 | 30 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 11 | ||
| 2013–14 | Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Hapoel Bnei Lod | Liga Leumit | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Hapoel Majd al-Kurum | Liga Alef | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 2015 | Hilal Al-Quds | West Bank Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Hapoel Kafr Kanna | Liga Alef | 27 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 6 |
Honours edit
Team edit
- Liga Alef (2):
- Liga Bet (1):
- Liga Artzit (1):
Individual edit
- Sport 5 Player of the Season (1): 2011–12[16]
- Footballer of the Year in Israel (1): 2012[17]
- Israeli Premier League - 2011–12 Top Goalscorer (20 goals)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל - Ahmad SABEA".
- ^ "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".
- ^ "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence".
- ^ "סבע: ראובן נותן לנו את כולו, הוא יצליח בכל מקום". 19 November 2011.
- ^ Mendel, Jack (15 October 2018). "Give football a chance to break the cycle of violence". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Blech, Dor (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע חתם במכבי נתניה [Ahmed Saba'a Signed With Maccabi Netanya] (in Hebrew). Walla!. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- ^ "אחמד סבע חתם ל-3 שנים בנתניה: אין מאושר ממני". 5 June 2011.
- ^ ארצי, שי (September 2011). "מכבי נתניה: אחמד סבע מונה לקפטן הקבוצה". Ynet.
- ^ "סבע השחקן, בן שמעון המאמן, הפועל האכזבה". 13 May 2012.
- ^ פורת, אבינעם (4 November 2012). "חנוכת בית, נתניה סטייל". Ynet.
- ^ "סבע חתם בק"ש: מבקש סליחה מאוהדי נתניה". 16 May 2013.
- ^ "אחמד סבע חתם לעונה וחצי בהפועל רעננה". 14 January 2014.
- ^ "אחמד סבע שוחרר מרעננה: לא היה לי טוב שם". 13 February 2014.
- ^ Artzi, Shai (20 October 2009). אחמד סבע: "חולם להגיע לנבחרת ישראל" [Ahmed Saba'a: "Dream of Making Israeli National Team"]. Yedioth Ahronoth (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ ארצי, שי (18 March 2012). "סבע: "אני שחקן ישראלי, לא אשחק בפלסטין"". Ynet.
- ^ "שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע - ספורט 5".
- ^ שחקן העונה: אחמד סבע כובש שוב
External links edit
- Ahmad Saba'a – Israel Football Association league player details
- Profile and statistics on One.co.il