Barnash_haviv
19 Oct 2002, 07:15 AM
Maccabi Haifa's Giovanni Rosso is on the verge of giving up his dream of playing in an Israel shirt after being offered the chance to play for his native Croatia.
He has been contacted by Croatian coach Otto Baric, who has invited him to play for his national team, sources close to Rosso said yesterday.
Rosso, 30, will probably accept the offer, as despite his wish to play for Israel, he is not likely to be granted citizenship in the foreseeable future.
After a meeting with Interior Minister Eli Yishai last week, the player was hopeful of a decision in his favor, but he was soon to learn that the best he could hope for while he waits the required five years, is temporary resident status.
Baric told a Croatian newspaper this week that he had been in touch with Rosso and that he want him to play for Croatia. He said that he watched the midfielder in action for Maccabi Haifa against Manchester United last month.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=220928&contrassID=2&subContrassID=6&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
He has been contacted by Croatian coach Otto Baric, who has invited him to play for his national team, sources close to Rosso said yesterday.
Rosso, 30, will probably accept the offer, as despite his wish to play for Israel, he is not likely to be granted citizenship in the foreseeable future.
After a meeting with Interior Minister Eli Yishai last week, the player was hopeful of a decision in his favor, but he was soon to learn that the best he could hope for while he waits the required five years, is temporary resident status.
Baric told a Croatian newspaper this week that he had been in touch with Rosso and that he want him to play for Croatia. He said that he watched the midfielder in action for Maccabi Haifa against Manchester United last month.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=220928&contrassID=2&subContrassID=6&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y