Kenny Saief at Maccabi Haifa

Discussion in 'Yanks Abroad' started by Testudo, Apr 5, 2014.

  1. bshredder

    bshredder BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 23, 1999
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Compound that with the fact his cousin was an Israeli policeman killed in a recent synagogue attack that was the focus of worldwide attention.... he might feel attachment to Israel with his family's service and sacrifice to the nation.

    I understand the interest of U.S. fans to win every dual national recruit but this one might not go their way... I hope they let it slide and not lament over it too.
     
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  2. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #102 m vann, Feb 27, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2015
    Totally forgot that you reported that little tidbit a while back. Sad. Truly sad. He would pay the ultimate homage to his late Father and Cousin by repping Israel. If would be a crime if he did not.

    Agreed. I've always had the attitude you win some; you lose some with dual nationals. I never get bent out of shape when one chooses another nation. It has to be a tough decision and I can never fault one for going with their heart.
     
    GiallorossiYank repped this.
  3. Tom Collingsworth

    Jun 14, 2011
    North Carolina
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    why would they? I made an effort to watch a couple of Gent games just to check this kid out and I certainly didn't see a future international star or anything.

    He's a decent enough player but doubtful he'd be good enough to make a real impact with the full US national team. It's certainly not a loss anyone should be fretting over.
     
  4. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    The good news?
    He's a newly-arrived 21 year-old who's played 15 games out of 27, and been on the bench for another 5 for a team that's in third, four points off the leaders.

    The bad news?
    There's a lot of garbage minutes in there, and he's gone over 45' in only 7 of those appearances. Not at all bad for a 21 year-old in a new league of a higher standard. Nothing outstanding either, given the strength of the Belgian League.

    Nobody would lose any sleep if a player with those stats for, say, the Sounders chose Israel over the USA.
     
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  5. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    On the bench today against RSCA.

    Article on his father's death (translated):

    Kenny Saief lost on February 18, his father and shortly thereafter he flew to Israel for the farewell ceremony. "I had the coach got a few days off, something my family and I greatly appreciated," explains Saief in Latest News.

    "You know what AA Gent has done for me, I never forget. Their gesture, the banner after the victory against Club took all news channels in Israel and it was picked up in American newspapers. My father has now found peace and I have by. C'est la vie."

    "I am the oldest of three children, and it is now my duty to take care of everything. That's why I stayed a few days longer in Israel to support my mom and tell her to stay strong. I will do everything to to make my father proud."


    http://www.voetbalnieuws.be/news/17...en_om_mijn_vader_trots_te_maken#ixzz3UScbCYcM
     
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  6. keller4president

    Jan 5, 2006
    Will be interesting to see if Israel or USA calls him up first. I bet israel is his choice.
     
  7. Testudo

    Testudo Member+

    Jan 29, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Started & scored on a penalty (2:32) in Gent's league opener vs. Westerlo last weekend:

     
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  8. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    Make that Gent's league opener as defending champions!! They finished second in the regular season, but won the playoff tournament. It was their first title in their 150 years as a sports club, and 115 years as a football club!

    This means that Kenny Saief will play in the group stages of the Champions' League this season;)
     
    Dough Boy repped this.
  9. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    A starter on Belgian Champion? "Thank you, no. Those guys are a little bit behind".
     
  10. failure

    failure Member

    Aug 11, 2014
    Club:
    DC United
  11. Gorky

    Gorky Member+

    Jul 28, 2006
    NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Americans playing in the CL!
     
  12. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  13. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  14. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Tom Collingsworth and Winoman repped this.
  15. Dave Marino-Nachison

    Jun 9, 1999
    By the way, Israel didn't qualify for Brazil out of UEFA.
     
  16. autobus39

    autobus39 Member+

    Jun 28, 2006
    Scranton, PA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Went 67 minutes in a 2-1 road win against Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    Gent have a 1 point lead over Valencia for 2nd heading in the last match day.

    Highlights
     
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  17. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Dough Boy and Winoman repped this.
  18. The Irish Rover

    The Irish Rover Member+

    Aug 1, 2010
    Dublin
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    And Gent win 2-1, which means that Gent become the first Belgian side in 15 years to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, consigning Valencia to the Europa League and Lyons to . . . well, nothing. An amazing achievement.

    It's Real or Barca up next!! ;);)
     
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  19. GiallorossiYank

    GiallorossiYank Member+

    Jan 20, 2011
    NJ/Roma/Napoli
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #119 GiallorossiYank, Dec 10, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2015









    Edited - searched his name and found some craziness on twitter.
     
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  20. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    (TxT) repped this.
  21. ArsenalMetro

    ArsenalMetro Member+

    United States
    Aug 5, 2008
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Expects to be called up...for what, exactly? We don't have another match for 4 months.
     
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  22. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sorta wondering if he is using this as leverage to get an Israeli call-up. Wouldn't be the first.
     
  23. Sebsasour

    Sebsasour Member+

    New Mexico United
    May 26, 2012
    Albuquerque NM
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Weird timing. Be happy to see him cone on board though
     
  24. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    does this mean the US is having a January camp after all?
     
  25. BostonRed

    BostonRed Member+

    Oct 9, 2011
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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