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Former England coach promotes peace in Israel

Updated: 25/Oct/2006 17:56

Former England national football team manager Sven Goran Eriksson

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JERUSALEM (EJP)--- Former England national football team manager Sven Goran Eriksson was in Israel this weekend, and participated in a day of activities promoting peace between Israeli and Palestinian children.

Eriksson spent Sunday involved in games organised by the Peres Center for peace for 120 Israeli and Palestinian six to13-year olds, in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat.

"The Peres Peace Center is doing important work in promoting a message of peace through soccer for Israeli and Palestinian children," said Eriksson. "I am happy be a part of this message and proud to contribute the Center's activities."

Eriksson, who is Swedish, is not the first football personality to travel to Israel and promote the Peres Centre's work. He served as England manager until the World Cup in the Summer when he was replaced by Steve Mclaren.

Earlier this year Barcelona's star striker was in the country for a few days and took part in a celebrity soccer match to raise money and awareness for the Centre.

And last year Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho participated in a similar visit.

Excited to be here

In an interview with Israeli television channel Sport 1, the Eriksson explained how he happened to be in the country.

He said: “This is my first time here so I am very excited to see everything. My friend[internationaly renowned Israeli football agent] Pini Zahavi is a friend of the Chairman of Maccabi Haifa and he invited me.

“I am not working now so I said why not because it is always good to visit new countries and i like to watch football.”

Eriksson attended Haifa's impressive 3-1 UEFA Cup win over French team Auxerre on Thursday but missed Monday night's disappointing Israeli Premier League match which saw the team in green draw 3-3 with minnows Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan.

Complementing the Israeli champions, he said: “From what I saw, Israeli football is of a good standard. Haifa played very well and beat a good team in Auxerre.”

One Israeli footballer who has had massive success in the UK is midfielder Yossi Benayoun, the recently appointed captain of the Israeli national team, who has been playing for West Ham United in London for the last year.

Describing Benayoun as an “excellent player,” Eriksson said: “I saw him play a few times at West Ham last season and I think he is one of the best on their team. Its important for the national team that Israeli players play in the best leagues abroad, like England, Spain etc.”

“Israeli football is on the rise”

Eriksson also commented on the Israeli national team who are in the same group as England for qualification for the 2008 European Championships. The two teams meet in March in Tel Aviv and Eriksson admitted it could be a close game.

He said: “I met the Israeli national team coach while I was here and I think they have a good chance to qualify. They are in a tough group with england but everything is possible. I think Israeli football is on the rise. And this is good for everyone. When there are new countries like we saw in the last world cup it is good for football.”

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