Hapoel Speaks: The Story of Yona Zelikovski

In the world of high stakes professional sports, an athlete’s career — sometimes spanning several years in length — is often paradoxically defined by a single moment. LeBron James, for example — a basketball player of tremendous skill and repute, holder of multiple prestigious records that will most probably never be broken — enjoyed his career defining moment in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors when he blocked a shot that would ultimately secure the city of Cleveland its first professional sports championship in 50 years. This moment, forever cemented in basketball lore as “The Block” marked the climax of LeBron’s career. And, while he would go on to win another NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, he will forever be remembered for the historic nature of the title he won with Cleveland — a title secured by one remarkable defensive play.

In football, too, there are moments so spectacular and memorable that they transcend the careers of the athletes they belong to. Diego Maradona had two such moments in the same game — the controversial “Hand of God” and the mythic “Goal of the Century”, both occurring just minutes apart in the 1986 World Cup semifinal. The latter was evidence of Maradona’s prodigious footballing ability, for with 11 touches in 11 seconds he dribbled past five English outfield players en route to scoring one of the most artistic goals of all-time, while the former was a fitting representation of the great man’s wit and cunning — he named the illegally scored goal himself when he remarked after the game that it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God”.

These moments of epochal magnitude are not exclusive to competitions on the international stage. For in the rich tapestry of Israeli football history there are many episodes that define eras, seasons, and careers. Hapoel Tel Aviv, the third most successful football club in Israel’s storied past, has been home to many legends etched in the memories of fans worldwide. Gili Landau’s 86th minute game winning goal against Maccabi Haifa to secure the 1985–86 Liga Leumit title immediately comes to mind, as does Rifaat Turk’s 1981 free kick goal against Hapoel Jerusalem from the center circle. Another moment of comparable significance took place roughly a decade before Turk’s spectacular strike at YMCA stadium; for in the 1971/72 Israel State Cup final, center forward Shiye Feigenbaum scored the game winning goal in the 41st minute against Hapoel Jerusalem. Shiye’s clinical finish was but one of 131 goals he scored over the course of his illustrious career with Hapoel Tel Aviv. And, while this particular goal was certainly decisive, it is immortalized for the breathtaking build-up: Hapoel’s right winger retrieved the ball deep in midfield, surged into Jerusalem’s final third, and delivered a perfectly placed pass for Shiye’s finish.

While Shiye Feigenbaum’s phenomenal career has been extensively chronicled, the man who created that decisive chance, Yoni Zelikovski, remains relatively unsung. His career, while devoid of the spotlight or acclaim of his peers, is remarkable in its own right. For in the tumultuous football landscape of the 1970s, Yoni was never a star, yet he was indispensable all the same — a quiet embodiment of the working class spirit and dogged determination of Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Yona “Yoni” Zelikovski was born in Kibbutz Shefayim on September 18, 1948 to Chava and Yitzhak. Like most of Shefayim’s residents, the Zelikovskis were Polish. Yoni’s parents, for their part, arrived at the kibbutz shortly after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. “I could not have asked for better parents as a child,” said Yoni. “Their love for the kibbutz and the country was palpable, and it was very important for them to raise me and my siblings in a kibbutz.” Indeed, the communal nature of life in the kibbutz, and the values it instilled in all of its residents — altruism, selflessness, and quiet, unshakeable resolve — were each core tenets of the Zelikovski family. Chava and Yitzhak were both modest and caring people — always offering to help others with their problems and always seeking to lend a hand to assist those in need.

“My mother was called Chavali by her fellow kibbutzniks…” said Yoni, “…it was a term of endearment bestowed upon her out of love. My father, too, was a very warm man. He used to work in the orchards to harvest and pick clementines and oranges — and even as an elderly man he would offer to help collect fruit at the height of the season.” Through the lessons he learned from his parents, and the ethos of Shefayim, Yoni quickly came to understand the value of human decency — having love for your fellow man, being steadfast in the face of adversity and hardship, and the importance of remaining morally upright through trials and tribulations. These were the important ideals that Chava and Yitzhak passed down to Yoni.

While Yoni certainly appreciated the rhythms and shared purpose of life in the kibbutz, it did at times grow tiresome and monotonous. “A kibbutz is basically a commune. You are very close to everyone who lives there. But life is cyclical, you wake-up with the same people, eat with the same people, and study with the same people. Then, at the start of the next day, the cycle repeats itself.” Given the predictability of life on the kibbutz, it is no surprise that Yoni wanted to experience a world larger than himself beyond the confines of Shefayim. That opportunity presented itself through the sport of football.

Football in Shefayim was incredibly popular, primarily because clubs from the top two divisions of Israeli football, and the Israeli national team, visited the kibbutz regularly. Yoni began playing football the moment he could walk, and after kicking his first ball he was immediately smitten. While he would eventually go on to make his name in professional football at Hapoel Tel Aviv, as a boy he was an avid supporter of Hapoel Petah Tikva — and understandably so. For in the 50s and 60s Petah Tikva boasted one of the strongest teams in all of Israel — winning the Liga Alef title in ’55, the Israel State Cup in ’57, and then 5 back-to-back Liga Leumit trophies from 1958–1963. Yoni idolized the legendary squad that dominated the late 50s and early 60s; and he dreamt of one day reaching the level of his heroes — Nahum Stelmach and Shlomo Nahari. But, after many years of playing football recreationally in Shefayim, Yoni’s first opportunity to play the game competitively would not come with Hapoel Petah Tikva or Hapoel Tel Aviv. Instead, he would have to work his way up from the unforgiving trenches of the lower leagues.

In the 60s and 70s most footballers who played for the top teams in Israel were homegrown talents — which is to say, they joined the club as youths, played there through their adolescence, and then were promoted from within the club to the first team. Such was the case with Nahum Stelmach at Petah Tikva, and almost all of Yoni’s future teammates at Hapoel. Indeed, Shiye Feigenbaum, Ami Admoni, Yehezkel Hazom, and Avraham Cohen — just to name a few — all started their careers with Hapoel Tel Aviv. But Yoni was different, for he started his career in Liga Alef, the second division of Israeli football at the time, with Maccabi Herzliya. After plying his trade for a year in their ranks, he moved to Hapoel Herzliya — also in Liga Alef — where he stayed for the next three seasons.

Yoni’s time at the Herzliya clubs was uneven and marked by frustration — he moved in and out of the starting lineup over the course of his 4 years there, so he never really had the consistent opportunities required to make his mark on the club or the league. Nevertheless, he was undeterred — his dream of playing in the top flight of Israeli football burned brightly, undiminished by setbacks. And so, upon the conclusion of his 3rd season at Hapoel Herzliya, Yoni made a bold decision to bet on himself and requested a transfer to the club he had supported since childhood — Hapoel Petah Tikva. Unfortunately, Herzliya refused to release him. No matter, if he could not play for his favorite team, he’d settle for the next best thing — playing for his older brother Israel’s favorite team: Hapoel Tel Aviv. “In truth, I arrived at Hapoel Tel Aviv mostly because of my older brother.”

From his days as a boy in the kibbutz, Yoni developed a friendship with former Hapoel Tel Aviv and Israel national team footballer Amatsia Levkovich. Their bond was forged during one of Hapoel’s many visits to Shefayim, and for years thereafter Amatsia remained a steady presence in Yoni’s life. After Yoni’s brother, Israel, suggested that he look into playing for Hapoel, Yoni reached out to Amatsia who arranged a trial in front of Hapoel’s then coach, Harry Game. Game was impressed by Yoni’s performance and swiftly moved to make the transfer official for 3000 lira — this time, Yoni’s ascent to the first division would not be denied. And so, Yona Zelikovski arrived in Liga Leumit with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Yoni (right) during a Hapoel training session while Coach Harry Game (left) watches

Despite achieving his childhood dream of reaching the national league, Yoni’s position in Hapoel’s first team was far from certain when he first set foot at the club. After all, he was at times a peripheral player on a less than stellar Liga Alef side just a year before earning his chance on the national stage. Yoni, for his part, had his own doubts about his place among the league’s elite: “I didn’t believe I would be able to integrate quickly. A player who comes from a club like Hapoel Herzliya cannot dream of a quick and natural combination with figures such as Primo, Feigenbaum, Hazom, and others.” But unbeknownst to Yoni and his new teammates, his particular talents were precisely what the team needed.

What, exactly, did Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Harry Game see in Yoni’s game during the trial that led him to take a flyer on a journeyman from the second tier of Israeli football? Well, in a word, speed. “They used to tell me that I was quicker than a plane,” said Yoni. “In fact, I was so fast that sometimes I would outrun the ball.” Yoni’s explosive pace added an element to Hapoel’s phenomenal squad that it previously lacked. His blistering acceleration was a God given gift that could not be taught. And, when paired with his deft dribbling, impeccable timing, and pinpoint passing; he was a dynamic force to be reckoned with when marauding down the flanks at the opposition defenders. Yoni’s raw talent, along with the modest nature and humble spirit he inherited from his loving parents, allowed him to seamlessly blend into the squad. “My teammates at Hapoel welcomed me nicely into the club. I integrated into the team very quickly. From the first practice they accepted me. And, of course, I was very excited to play with them.”

After seeing him play just once, Coach Game was well aware of Yoni’s unique skill set. The crucial next step would be to sharpen those skills and hone his talents so they could be of immediate use on the pitch. Fortunately for Yoni and Hapoel Tel Aviv, sharpening skills and honing talents were Harry Game’s areas of expertise. “Coach Game gave me a lot of confidence. His advice was easy to understand and implement. He taught me tastefully, and his guidance helped me become a part of the team,” said Yoni. Just as Yoni’s rapport with his teammates was immediate in the locker room, their chemistry together on the pitch was seamless as well.

Understandably, he started his first few games at Hapoel on the bench — but it quickly became clear to fans and players alike that Yoni was far too valuable to keep on the sidelines. But just how valuable could a 23-year-old journeyman who had spent the bulk of his career toiling away in the second division truly be? The answer, as it turned out, was far greater than anyone could have imagined.

On September 13, 1972 just 5 days before Yoni’s 24th birthday, Hapoel Tel Aviv took the field against Beitar Jerusalem in the quarterfinals of the Israel State Cup. The game was hosted by Beitar and, as is the case with every clash in this bitter rivalry, the atmosphere was electric, and the tension was palpable. “When we used to go into Jerusalem to play Beitar, you could feel the pressure from the moment you entered the city. More to the point — you could feel the hatred, the hatred between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem.”

The magnitude of the occasion was not lost on Yoni, and when he stepped onto YMCA field, his legs wobbled from the weight of expectation. Whatever nerves he felt on that charged Wednesday were invisible to his teammates and fans — for Yona Zelikovski played an excellent game. In a match that needed extra time to determine a winner, Hapoel Tel Aviv won 2–1; both goals were assisted by none other than Yona Zelikovski.

A week after toppling Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel was set to face Maccabi Haifa in the semifinals of one of the most prestigious competitions in all of Israeli football. For five years, the players of Hapoel struggled to reach the summit of Israeli football’s elite. For five years they fought valiantly and tragically fell short. But, on September 20th of 1972, they succeeded. A 2–1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in front of 20,000 spectators at the national stadium in Ramat Gan brought them back to the rightful place at the top of Israeli football. Yet again, as was the case just a week prior on YMCA field, both goals were assisted by Yona Zelikovski.

Then came the Israel State Cup final against Hapoel Jerusalem, and the glorious moment that would define Yoni’s storied career. As a whole, the match was not worthy of the occasion. Indeed, postgame reports from the principal news publication of Mapam — Al HaMishmar — referred to the game as “slow paced…” and noted that “the level of football was low.” The exception, of course, was the play of one Yona Zelikovski. “In attack…” wrote the Al HaMishmar correspondent, “…the standout was Yona Zelikovski, the 24-year-old recruit from Kibbutz Shefayim. Zelikovski moved with exemplary agility and was directly responsible for the winning goal.” That goal, once again assisted by Yoni, turned out to be the moment of a lifetime. “In the first half of the game, I retrieved the ball in the middle of the pitch — and I was a very quick player, I was very fast, and I dribbled past two Jerusalem defenders and I passed the ball to Shiye Feigenbaum and he scored the goal. And, while I don’t hear particularly well in my right ear, I vividly remember him screaming ‘Yoni, you’re amazing!’”

After the goal was scored, Yoni instinctively ran to embrace the fans — for there was one person, above all others, he absolutely had to find. “Once Shiye scored I immediately went to see my brother in order to get his congrats. Without him, I would have never made it to Hapoel Tel Aviv, and I would not have experienced that moment.”

On September 26th of 1972, Hapoel Tel Aviv won the Israel State Cup, defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 1–0 at Ramat Gan Stadium. In keeping with tradition, Israel’s then president — Zalman Shazar — presented Hapoel’s players with the trophy. “That was the pinnacle of my football career,” said Yoni.

After the cup, Yoni returned home to Kibbutz Shefayim. Then came the Yom Kippur War, which Yoni was conscripted to serve in. Unfortunately, what should have been the dawning start to an otherwise long and illustrious career was ultimately cut short by the war. “When I came back from the army, I didn’t have the same physical ability as before. So that was the end.” Despite the abrupt end to Yoni’s once-promising career; it was, without a doubt, a roaring success. From humble beginnings in Kibbutz Shefayim to Maccabi and Hapoel Herzliya in Liga Alef, ascending to the storied heights of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Yoni’s footballing life was a testament to the power of perseverance.

Today, in retirement, Yoni is no longer a fan of Hapoel Petah Tikva — instead he is a passionate supporter of the club where he made his name: Hapoel Tel Aviv. As he reflects on his career now, aged 76, he is overcome with a sense of appreciation — for the opportunity, the memories, and the moments that shaped his remarkable journey.

“From the minute I started playing and practicing at Hapoel I became a part of the team. It was an excellent feeling to be a part of that special group. It gave me so much self-confidence — both on the pitch as a player, and off the pitch as a person. People often feel pride in doing something good for their country. That is how I felt about my time at Hapoel Tel Aviv — I could always say to myself, ‘Yoni, you did something for the team.’”

The 1971/72 Israel State Cup Champions: Hapoel Tel Aviv. (Standing from right to left): Yaakov Shani, Nachman Castro, David Primo, Israel Goldstein, and Shimon Ben-Yonatan. (Kneeling from right to left): Yaakov Rahminovitch, Avraham Cohen, Shiye Feigenbaum, Yehezkel Hazom, and Yoni Zelikovski. (Lying): Aryeh Bejerano.