Her team may be top of Ligat Ha’Al, but Alona Barkat insists winning is not the biggest factor spurring her on at Hapoel Beer Sheva.
A 2-0 victory over Maccabi Netanya helped Beer Sheva open a five-point gap at the top of the league table, while second-placed Maccabi Tel Aviv were held 1-1 by rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv.
If Beer Sheva wins its first title since 1976, it will be a remarkable achievement. While it is not unique for a woman to own a football club - examples being Katharina Liebherr’s Southampton and Margharita Louis-Dreyfus’ Marseille – women who inherited valuable financial assets from men – Barkat proactively purchased a club.
"Since I was a girl I’ve always been interested in boys’ things like football and motor racing,” she told the JC. “I had been involved in philanthropy and thought what better way to promote educational values for youth than through football."
When Ms Barkat bought Beer Sheva in 2007, the team was languishing in Israel’s second tier league. The fans did not take to the wealthy Tel Aviv “intruder” who is married to high-tech investment billionaire Eli Barkat, brother of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. But promotion followed after two seasons and despite having Ligat Ha’al’s fifth largest budget, the team finished second in 2013/14.
Ms Barkat is a hands-on owner who has earned respect with the steely behaviour behind her soft manner. She sacked manager Elisha Levy last season after the team finished third top-flight and replaced him with Barak Bachar.
In 2010, Barkat announced she would be selling the club after fans assaulted then manager Guy Azuri. She retracted her threat after the violence was rooted out.
"There are things that are more important than winning,” she insists. “There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance at our club.
"We promote social change. Our team includes Jews, Arabs including Bedouin and foreign Christian players. We are part of the community and have programs for 600 youths including special programs for Bedouin and Ethiopian immigrants. Through Hapoel Beer Sheva we can give back to society."
New manager Bachar has tightened the defence and built a blend of stars including former Genk striker Elyaniv Barda and Chelsea striker Ben Sahar. The have also brought in Nigerian midfielder John Ogu and homegrown youth-team talent in the shape of defender Ofir Davidzada. The opening of a 16,100 stadium, sold out for every game, has also boosted the team.
But can Beer Sheva become champions? “We always believed we could, even when we were in the second division,” said Ms Barkat. “When you aspire to excellence, you don’t want to finish second."
