Imaye Taga

Imaye Taga (sometimes Amaya or Amiya,[1] Hebrew: אמייה "אמיר" טגה, born 1 February 1985) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli former footballer who played for the Israel U21 national team, and currently serves as a member of the city council of Netanya, Israel.

Imaye Taga
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-02-01) 1 February 1985
Place of birth Ethiopia
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2004 Maccabi Netanya
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2010 Maccabi Netanya 112 (9)
2010–2012 Hapoel Ashkelon 45 (1)
2012–2015 Hapoel Acre 64 (2)
2015–2017 Maccabi Netanya 32 (2)
International career
2001 Israel U-17 7 (0)
2006–2007 Israel U-21 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 July 2015

Biography

Imaye (Amir) Taga was born in Ethiopia to an Ethiopian-Jewish family. The family immigrated to Israel in 1991 during Operation Solomon when he was 6 years old. On 11 August 2006 Amiya's younger brother Avi Taga was found dead by his eldest brother and the Israeli Police in Kiryat Ekron. Taga had been missing from home since Wednesday, 9 August 2006. Club officials went to visit the player at his family residence to console him during the traditional Jewish mourning period of the Shiva.[2]

In 2007 he changed his name back to his childhood name. "Imaye" in the Amharic language means "a child".

Sports career

Taga attended the ORT boarding school in Netanya where he was discovered by scouts of the local side - Maccabi Netanya.[3] Taga grew up through the ranks at Netanya, he played throughout the youth system and made his debut for the senior side at the 2003–04 season. He played for six years in the first team.

On July 28, 2010, he left Netanya and signed a two years contract with Hapoel Ashkelon. After two years spent in Ashkelon, Taga signed with Hapoel Acre on April 11, 2012.[4]

On July 5, 2015, after five years of playing outside of Netanya, Taga returned to play for his home club of Maccabi Netanya.[5] After 2 seasons with Netanya, Taga retired from football as he ventured into local politics.[6] Taga is regarded as local legend in Netanya as he played 186 games in all club competitions in a total of 8 years playing for Maccabi Netanya.

On 28 February 2006, Taga made his debut for the Israel U-21s in a friendly game against Ukraine. On 11 October 2006, Taga scored the historic goal for Israel in the playoff game against France, which secured Israel's shock qualification to UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 with a 2–1 aggregate win.[7]

On 3 August 2010, Taga got called up for the senior national team for the first time in his career. He was about to win his first cap for the national team, but an injury prevented that from happening and Taga never played a single game for the national team.[8]

Honours

Club career statistics
(correct as of 11.8.15)[9]
Club Season League Cup Toto Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Maccabi Netanya 2003–04 9012002000001301
2004–05 28321005000003432
2005–06 27200005000003220
2006–07 28321005000003432
2007–08 15100002002001910
2008–09 000000000000000
2009–10 5000006002001300
Hapoel Ashkelon 2010–11 29002006000003700
2011–12 16120003000001912
Hapoel Acre 2012–13 26101002000002910
2013–14 12000000000001200
2014–15 25101003000002910
Maccabi Netanya 2015–16 17101004000002210
2016–17 15100004000001910
Career 2581479004700400318147

References
  1. "Israel - A. Taga - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  2. (in Hebrew) Amir Taga's little brother found dead. Sport5.co.il Archived 30 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  3. The tragic glory of Amir Tega. Ha'aretz. (Retrieved on 28 Oct., 2006).
  4. אלבז, שמעון (11 April 2012). "הפועל עכו: אמייה טגה חתם לשלוש שנים". Ynet.
  5. "מכבי נתניה: אמייה טגה חוזר אחרי חמש שנים, עומר ורד סיכם - וואלה! ספורט". 5 July 2015.
  6. ""עוד יהיה ראש עיר אתיופי": הכדורגלן שיכבוש את עיריית נתניה - וואלה! חדשות". 20 October 2018.
  7. "The Israel Football Association". Archived from the original on 1 April 2016.
  8. "טגה, בונדר וזהבי הוזמנ לסגל נבחרת ישראל - וואלה! ספורט". 3 August 2010.
  9. "One: הפועל עכו - אמייה טגה".
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