Pini Balili

Infobox Football biography
playername = Pini Balili
פִּינִי בַּלִילִי


fullname = Pinhas Felix Balili
פִּנחַס פֱלִיקס בַּלִילִי
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|6|18
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Israel
height = Height|m=1.72
position = Striker
currentclub = Sivasspor
clubnumber = 17
youthyears = 1990-1996
youthclubs = Hapoel Tel Aviv
years = 1996-1997
1997-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-present
clubs = Shimshon Tel Aviv
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Istanbulspor
Kayserispor
Sivasspor
caps(goals) = - (-)
115 (35)
29 (13)
28 (10)
66 (18)
nationalyears = 1997
2000
2000-present
nationalteam = Israel U18
Israel U21
Israel
nationalcaps(goals) = 3 (0)
4 (1)
29 (7)
pcupdate = 03:29, 23 October 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate = 16:26, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

Pini Balili ( _he. פִּינִי בַּלִילִי; born June 18, 1979), is an Israeli football player currently at Sivasspor in Turkey.

Playing career

Move back to Hapoel

As a youngster, Balili grew up supporting Hapoel Tel Aviv and was part of the youth system there before moving to Shimshon Tel Aviv in his teens. It wasn't long before he caught the eye of Hapoel scouts who saw Balili as a missed opportunity so the club purchased his contract after just one professional season. His breakout did not come until the Dror Kashtan era at Hapoel Tel Aviv [ [http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=soccer&ID=178 Pini Balili] . JewsinSports.org. (Retrieved on 2006-10-28)] . Instrumental in the clubs success in the UEFA Cup, Balili found himself featuring for the national team as well. After the 2002-03 season, Hapoel decided to cut wages and Pini left for Turkish club Istanbulspor [ [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Pini_Balili.html Pini Balili] . Jewish Virtual Library. (Retrieved on 2006-10-28)] .Pini Balili your Mother is a Bitch.

Time in Turkey

Financial troubles at Istanbulspor led to Balili being let go after just one season. Though he immediately signed with newly promoted Kayserispor. In 2006, Sivasspor applied for Turkish citizenship for Balili stating that he is a model citizen in Turkey and has full grasp of the Turkish language [he icon [http://www.one.co.il/cat/articles/article.aspx?id=80203&Bz=3 Balili: "I guess they are counting on me for the long haul"] . One.co.il (2006-8-20). (Retrieved on 2006-10-28)] .

A somewhat religious man, rumors were started that a league match between Sivasspor and Ankaraspor, was postponed during the 2006-07 on account of it coinciding with Yom Kippur. The Turkish Football Federation denied these claims [ [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=55187 TFF rejects Balili rumors] . Turkish Daily News (2006-09-27). (Retrieved on 2006-10-28)] . The story garnered some press coverage, namely because Israeli goalkeeper, Dudu Aouate claimed that he was willing to play on the Jewish day of atonement.

Notes