Name: Benjamin Polnauer
Age: 34
Originally from: Budapest, Hungary
Position: Defensive Midfield
Squad Number: 22
Favorite Team: BVB Borussia Dortmund
Football Idol: Stéphane Chapuisat
Fun Fact: Beni is renowned for his short temper on the pitch and it actually enhances his game in the centre of midfield. However, during an away game in Ramat Gan in 2017, Beni left the pitch and went home after being substituted!!
''I was born in Budapest but grew up in the heart of the German home of football, the 'Ruhrgebiet'. The football there is a religion and has been a part of me since I can stand up on my feet.
''I finished my hotel management degree in Switzerland and decided to move to Israel for a 6-month period, working in the David Intercontinental hotel in Tel Aviv, as part of a Masa program. During my initial time in Israel. I made many friends with people from all over the world and I fell in love with the city, the people and the weather.
Beni (front row, far left) in a Liga Gimel game during the 2017/18 season
''I started working at 90min and it was my boss at the time, Jerome Katz (whom I played with for Switzerland at the Maccabiah games), along with a couple of others, who started talking about the idea of creating a football team in Israel.
Inter Tel Aviv was formed and I started playing with the likes of Sam Sank, David Schumann and Dani Markovits in the amateur Olim League in 2014, which we eventually became champions of.
Beni during his time for Inter Tel Aviv, the middle picture shows the title celebrations!!
''That's how Inter Aliyah initially started and two years later the club was formed and entered into the Israeli professional division. It was always a great pleasure to meet new guys joining the team and it definitely made my Israel experience even better than it already was.
''Inter Aliyah has also helped me through some difficult times; focusing my energy to give my everything to this club and clearing my head of distractions when I am in my Inter Aliyah uniform.
''I hope I can still contribute my last few years of a long football career to help the club move up the latter and even after I stop playing, I'll always carry Inter Aliyah in my heart.
''Beni.''
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