Israel v England - Will He or Won't He

[Rhodes]

With the story of Toto Temile even reaching the New York Times and due to be featured heavily in 'When Saturday Comes (WSC) magazine for April it is now time to ask the question will he or won't he play in the game in three weeks, is it worth having a poll or shall we just wait and see what happens:

 

Israel Withholds a Passport From a Willing Player

 

Published: February 18, 2007

Toto Tamuz wants to be an Israeli citizen, and he is going to withhold his soccer talents from the national team until he becomes one.

 

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Red Bulls Champions League UEFA Cup Other International Cup International Leagues Discuss Soccer Tamuz, who was reared in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew, is the son of illegal Nigerian immigrants. And now he is the top scorer in the Israeli league and a member of the national team.

 

The only thing Tamuz is missing is a passport.

 

“As someone who represents the country with pride, I’d like to get the same treatment from the country,” Tamuz, an 18-year-old striker, said before a meeting with his lawyers, who are taking his case to the Israeli Supreme Court. “I’m not willing to compromise on the basic issues. I want to be recognized as an Israeli, like everyone else.”

 

Tamuz, who has fought a long and so far unsuccessful battle to win citizenship, had been able to represent Israel because of his temporary residency status. But that has expired, and he rejected a two-year extension because he wants full citizenship.

 

Tamuz, who plays for Beitar Jerusalem, began his strike from the national team last week by skipping an exhibition match against Ukraine.

 

Israel’s hopes of qualifying for the 2008 European Championship — the team came within a point of reaching last year’s World Cup — could rest on the court’s decision. No date has been set for the ruling.

 

Until about a year ago, Tamuz was an illegal immigrant. On Dec. 27, 2005, he received a residency permit, which allowed him to play on the national team. Tamuz does not have Nigerian citizenship and does not seek it.

 

The story has captivated the imagination of the country. Tamuz’s teammates and coaches have pleaded with the government on his behalf, and petitions to grant him citizenship circulate on the Internet.

 

“He is a player with a lot of speed and power,” said Shlomo Sharf, the former coach of the national team. “He has the potential to reach Europe. But regardless of whether he is a soccer player, he should get citizenship. He is Israeli. He’s been here almost his entire life and he knows no other country.”

 

Tamuz was 2 when he arrived in Israel from Nigeria with his parents.

 

His father, Clement Temile, played for a local soccer club. When the family had financial problems, Tamuz was placed in the care of one of his father’s Israeli teammates. Tamuz’s parents lingered in Israel for years, working illegally at odd jobs, before leaving.

 

His parents attempted to renew contact after Tamuz’s rise through the ranks of Israeli soccer, but he has rejected the gestures.

 

When he was 8, Tamuz moved in with Orit Tamuz, an Israeli woman whom he calls his mother. Though Orit never formally adopted Tamuz, she reared him and put him through school. He took her family name.

 

Orit Tamuz declined to comment until the Supreme Court case is resolved.

 

Tamuz eventually emerged as a huge talent in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva and moved into Israel’s top division.

 

Tamuz was Hapoel Petah Tikva’s leading scorer last season, finishing fifth in the league with 11 goals in his first season in the top league. He was also the star player on Israel’s under-19 and under-21 teams, leading the latter to a berth in this year’s European championship.

 

Now with Beitar Jerusalem, one of Israel’s most famous clubs, Tamuz has only gotten better. Last week, he scored two dazzling goals to help his first-place team defeat Maccabi Haifa, the three-time defending champion. He leads the league with 10 goals.

 

With the national team, Tamuz scored a goal in a 4-1 victory over Andorra in September. A month later, in a European Championship qualifier, he set up the tying goal in a 1-1 tie against Russia.

 

Israel, which is tied for third place in Group E with England, faces the English team on March 24, and Tamuz hopes his ordeal will be resolved by then.

 

But that will depend on the Supreme Court. Last Monday, Israel’s Interior Ministry rejected a final appeal from Tamuz.

 

“The fact that the plaintiff is a known and promising soccer player who played for the national team does not grant him privileges in attaining Israeli citizenship,” the government said.

 

Israel has tens of thousands of illegal African workers.

 

 

[Tubbsy8]

"His parents attempted to renew contact after Tamuz’s rise through the ranks of Israeli soccer, but he has rejected the gestures."

 

I suggest Clement has a libel claim here from what you have being preaching Rhodes!

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Tamuz, who was reared in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew, is the son of illegal Nigerian immigrants.

Can I ask what Clement's legal status in this country is, clip Rods?

[PB!]

Do you actually read through these before you post them Rhodes mate, every one makes Clement out in an even worse light!!!

 

Got the programme today, thanks. Will have a read through over the weekend. Told you the post here was rubbish.

[HTFCew]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

His father, Clement Temile, played for a local soccer club. When the family had financial problems, Tamuz was placed in the care of one of his father’s Israeli teammates. Tamuz’s parents lingered in Israel for years, working illegally at odd jobs, before leaving.

I don't think he does read them - he has put more stuff on here putting down Clement than anyone else!

[Rhodes]

Clement has nothing to hide, his conscience is totally clear. Apologies but I actually intended to attach a link to the New York Times article however it wouldn't work, since then I have identified at least 25 papers from all around the globe, including China, that carry stories about Toto with 'the great one' and Kentish Town heavily featured. I think this one is going to run and run, Whitewebbs v Kentish Town and 'the mighty Brimsdown Rovers v Kentish Town style, fortunately we don't have a game on Saturday 24th and our plan is to go to a pub in Stamford Hill or Golders Green to watch the game although 'the great one' has been invited over to Tel Aviv. Lastly why not start subscribing to When Saturday Comes (WSC) in time for the eagerly awaited publication of the April issue next week just incase you are left disappointed when stocks run dry:

 

http://www.wsc.co.uk/subscriptions/index.html

 

[Lato]

Don't forget folks I have a subsription so will be able to confirm the article's content.

 

Incidentally rhodes why watch the game in Golders Green...is that close to Kentish Town or Tottenham? Is is the large Jewish population a factor as you will no doubt be supporting Israel (well you've almost said as much previously)

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

'the great one' has been invited over to Tel Aviv.

Who's invited him, clip Rods. It's unlikely to be Toto given that you have already kindly proved that he is resisting all attempts to open communication with the parents that abandoned him and, in any case, it's still uncertain if he will be in the Israeli squad. So who was it?

[Rhodes]

I'm afraid that's 'Royal Secret' information at the present time so I can't divulge it, all will be revealed soon. Obviously if, in the very unlikely event, Toto doesn't play in the game then 'the great one' won't bother to make the trip.

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

I'm afraid that's 'Royal Secret' information at the present time so I can't divulge it

Why not? Nobody's particularly interested in who it is. I just want you to justify your statement so that we can all see it is the truth. If you can't give a name, we'll have to assume it's more lies.

[Rhodes]

I have been specifically asked by the high profile overseas organisation to keep it under my hat for the time being but, like I said, all will be revealed over the next three weeks leading up to the game on 24 March if Toto plays. I think the handbagging is about to start in earnest and ensuring that he is in the Ramat-Gan Stadium that day standing on the centre spot at

6.30 with the ball under his foot ready to roll it forward to his strike partner, if Israel kick off that is.

[Horace]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

I have been specifically asked by the high profile overseas organisation to keep it under my hat for the time being but, like I said, all will be revealed over the next three weeks leading up to the game on 24 March if Toto plays. I think the handbagging is about to start in earnest and ensuring that he is in the Ramat-Gan Stadium that day standing on the centre spot at
6.30 with the ball under his foot ready to roll it forward to his strike partner, if Israel kick off that is.

I don't think that the Israeli authorities are going to be bullied into giving Israeli citizenship to one of tens of thousands of illegals, because he can play football! Indeed, they are likely not to, just to show what their policy regarding illegal immigrants is!

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Potters Bar Town FC

Can I ask what Clement's legal status in this country is, clip Rods?

Sorry I missed this one earlier. We've never discussed it so I'm not sure, British I believe as he bleeds red white and blue as well as the green of Nigeria but I'll ask him and let you know.

[Lato]

is it the Israeli version of Cilla Black a la Surprise Surprise stylee who is bank rolling the trip of Clement Temile to see his estranged son??

[Football Man]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

he bleeds red white and blue as well as the green of Nigeria

You can get treatment for that sort of thing these days!

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Lato

is it the Israeli version of Cilla Black a la Surprise Surprise stylee who is bank rolling the trip of Clement Temile to see his estranged son??

Lato - Well it's hardly going to cost someone a fortune is it, a business class return ticket from Heathrow to Tel Aviv would be about £500 I would have thought, then possibly another couple of hundred, if that, for some posh nosh and hospitality at the game.

[Lato]

not much point if his son isn't playing though is it? How is Steve McClaren getting on with his bid to prevent Toto Tammmuz playing in that game? (another unfounded allegation you made there rhodes but it's alright for you to make them of course - Brache Sparta's pitch doctoring also springs to mind. But if anyone says anything you don't like or that may not be true about KTFC then you go 'crying to teacher')

[Rhodes]

Lato - Not at all, I'm big and ugly enough to take all the flack that comes my way on here, and I get more than most. Old Lags post however was seriously out of order, making unfounded allegations about cheques bouncing around our ears and the Club being on the point of extinction, what if someone said the same about Ruislip Manor, wouldn't you go crying to teacher, namely Ian. As for Steve MacLaren it wasn't an unfounded allegation as I had it on good authority that he threw the original spanner in the works about Toto and people in Tel Aviv started to prick up their ears, you can tell he would do such a thing, look at his eyes when you get a chance and he has a history of below the belt blows.

[Lato]

You've done it again with another allegation about McClaren that you won't or more likely can't prove and unsurprisingly you've neglected to mention your comments over Brache Sparta's pitch and what you claimed they did to it.

 

[Rhodes]

Folks - It's looking very much like Toto will be cleared to play in the match on 24 March leaving the likes of Steve MacClaren, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerard and Peter Crouch, oh and Horace, crying into their beer tonight. We're planning a big night out on the 24th and will probably watch the match in a pub in either Golders Green or Stamford Hill, unfortunately 'the great one' is unlikely to be with us as now Toto is 99%, sorry 99.9%, certain to play as he will no doubt get his free VIP invite to Tel Aviv:

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6561882