26/05/2020 13:00
Israel start preparations for EuroVolley qualifiers, Himelfarb new women’s coach
News from the National Federations
Tel Aviv, Israel, May 26, 2020. The Israeli national teams will resume their activities very soon – and more specifically on June 16. The women’s national team will do so under the guidance of Chen Himelfarb (pictured), who recently signed a contract as head coach for the women’s team and the Volleyball Academy established at Wingate Institute in Netanya.
Chen coached Hapoel KFAR SABA for a decade, winning three national championships and three national cup trophies in the process. Hapoel were topping the charts at the end of the regular season back in March when the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic eventually resulted in an abrupt end to this year’s campaign.
In mid-June, Team Israel will start preparing for the EuroVolley 2021 qualifiers scheduled for August-September of this year. The CEV will confirm the eventual delivery of these matches by July 1, 2020 at the latest.
Himelfarb, who previously served as an assistant coach to Arie Selinger, said about the appointment to the position of head coach: “I want to thank the Israel Volleyball Association. I am excited and aware of the importance of the role I have taken on. The team is the showcase of Israeli Volleyball, and I am aware of the great challenges we face, but I definitely believe in Israeli Volleyball and Israeli players.” Israel are due to play the national teams of Denmark, France and Hungary in Pool E.
Speaking about the long time he spent with Hapoel KFAR SABA, Himelfarb continued: “It is time to thank the club that gave me the first opportunity to coach in the Premier League. I leave after ten years, and I definitely wish them much success in all of their future endeavours. Again, thank you very much to the club, to all the players who worked with me, and to the audience. I am going to take up a new challenge and I am happy and excited about it.”
On June 14, the men’s national team coached by Noam Katz will also return to action, while waiting for a confirmation that the EuroVolley qualifiers will be taking place as planned later this summer. “We are preparing for the start of the European Championship qualifiers. Three weeks ago my imagination was to meet this summer, but I am glad that things have improved and we have been able to organise this camp at such short notice,” Katz said. Israel feature in Pool B along with Volleyball powerhouse Bulgaria and Austria.
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