Ofir Davizada experienced a lot during his playing career and in seven seasons and over 200 appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv won seven trophies but also suffered some setbacks. The 32-year-old faced the media ahead of the ONE ZERO League MD26 match against Hapoel Haifa which will end the regular season before the international break which will be followed by the Playoffs. Davizada didn’t hide his disappointment from Thursday’s Conference League exit to Olympiacos as the 6-1 defeat after extra time in Serbia saw Maccabi crash out 7-5 on aggregate, and was candid: “Obviously Thursday was a massive disappointment but a big club is tested at moments like this: when you win then everything is easy and flowing, there is confidence in abundance, but as soon as you encounter an unexpected result and a big set-back then the character of the players, staff and club is put to the test.” Against an Hapoel Haifa side that is fighting for third place, and since the defeat to Maccabi on the final day of last year lost only twice in the league in 12 matches, Davidzada said: “We are facing a big game as we aim to show we have the character and confidence as players to show that we are top of the table on merit. We earned our right to be top and need to continue the good season we have been experiencing.”
Davizada, who in addition to his 2 league titles with Maccabi, won the championship with Hapoel Be’ersheva as well, added: “Every team has its’ spirit and vibe. We have our coaching staff, led by Robbie Keane who experienced so much is his playing career even a crisis, and I am sure he will know how to pass on the right message to the players as we have our fair share of history as well. There are experienced players here in the squad who must show leadership and continue driving the team forward to try and continue achieving the targets we set ourselves at the start of the season. For the moment we met all our targets and need to remember it and stick by it. The match against Hapoel Haifa is a massive test of the team’s character.”
To describe the ups and downs professional players experience, Davidzada reflected on the start of his illustrious career: “At the start of my career I made a debut appearance against Maccabi Haifa, had a decent performance, and two matches later played well as well. Then we had a game away to Ashdod and lost 4-0 or 5-0. At the end of the match the assistant coach approached me and said: ‘Welcome to senior football’. At the end of the day this is life and that is in football as well. This is where big players are measured. Our players have good character, they know how to deal with results that are not that good. The blend we have here of young and experienced players, who know how to lift you up when needed, whether that is Eran (Zahavi), Sheran (Yeini) and Dor (Peretz). I can tell you that the belnd with the youngsters we have is a good one and I have a good feeling ahead of Hapoel Haifa. This is what it feels to me, and I hope we will be able to show it as well.”
