Basketball / Smiles all around as Sheffer makes his third coming

Three months after retiring from basketball for the second time in his career, Doron Sheffer began his third comeback yesterday as he worked out with his new teammates at Hapoel Tel Aviv. Sheffer had signed with Hapoel over the summer, but then stood the club down shortly before the start of the season in October, when he announced he was quitting the game for good. There were no hard feelings yesterday, though, and Sheffer received a warm welcome from fans and players alike after passing a two-hour medical test. Sheffer kept a self-imposed silence however, telling the swarm of journalists at Usishkin: „Until my first game against Hapoel Jerusalem [in the State Cup] on January 14 I’m not talking,” said Sheffer, adding with a touch of irony, „Let’s hope I don’t retire before then.” Sheffer’s return to Hapoel has generated a wave of enthusiasm. „I’m optimistic; I believe that he will remain until the end of the season and will lead us to wins,” said coach Efi Birenboim. „Nobody could be happier than I am,” said small forward Barak Peleg, who with Sheffer and his previous team Hapoel Be’er Sheva took the ULEB Cup in 2004. „It’ better late than never. I’m sure that Doron can help us. His return will help us a lot.”