Bnei Sakhnin to hold memorial match for Lior Asulin murdered at Nova: "We will not forget his commitment to the club"
Bnei Sakhnin announced a memorial match for Lior Asulin, a former player murdered at the Nova party. The match will take place on October 20, 2026, between the 2004 State Cup-winning team and the senior squad. The club noted Asulin's commitment, but his family has not yet decided whether to attend, amid previous claims of neglect in commemoration.
Bnei Sakhnin announced this morning (Tuesday) a memorial match for Lior Asulin, a former club player murdered at the Nova party on October 7, 2023. The match will be held at Doha Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:15 PM, between the team that won the State Cup in the 2003/2004 season, in which Asulin played, and the senior squad. The event will be broadcast on Sport Channel. The club stated that it holds respect and love for Asulin and will not forget his commitment to the club. However, over the past three years, claims have been raised by his family and in the media, including in an interview by former club chairman Muhammad Abu Yunis on "Kan Sport," that the club did not contact the family and did not act for proper commemoration. The club added that the family will be invited and that public figures and officials from the sports world have been invited. Asulin's family has not yet decided whether to attend. Ortal, his sister, said they have not been personally contacted yet, and opinions are divided, with questions about the event's conduct, the playing of the national anthem, and noting the reasons for the murder. Eyal Lachman will coach the cup-winning team, which includes names like Kamouko Kamara, Sagi Strauss, Asaf Mendes, Nidal Shala'ata, Avi Danan, Ernest Atichi, Bassam Ghanaim, Mahran Abu Ria, Abbas Suan, Samer Miari, Darius Jacewicz, Tomer Eliyahu, Ami Tiar, Nidal Hujirat, Khaled Khalaila, Maurice Ozen, Ahmad Kasoum, Hussam Abu Saleh, Wassim Abbas, Rafi Cohen, and Gabriel Lima.