Maccabi’s Head Coach Kenny Miller, his entire coaching staff and several first team players attended the ‘Good deeds in Yellow’ event and joined the fans and packing food parcels for people in need. The biannual event which takes place for the 14th year was held at ‘Lago’ in Rishon Lezion, led by the Maccabi Foundation and fans’ organisation ‘Ahim Lasemel’ as NIS 825,000 raised donations were converted into food parcels ahead of the Jewish new year.
Miller, whose side has a 100% record from the opening two league matches, face a tough trip on Monday away to Hapoel Be’ersheva. The WINNER League MD3 will be a repeat of July’s Super Cup which Maccabi won 3-1 but also the same venue Maccabi conceded the league title last May before beating Be’ersheva in the State Cup Final.
“These community initiatives are always very important for a football club and its fans. It’s great that my staff, the players and I can come along to support it, take part and show that we’re fully behind projects like this, which are designed to collect essential goods and help people who are less fortunate.”
Ahead of another encounter against Be’ersheva, Maccabi’s sixth since MD26 last season in mid-April, Miller said: “They’re a team we know very well and one we’ve played a lot since I arrived in Israel. They’re a very good side. We’ve performed very well against them and had positive results in our last four or five meetings, but to get the result we want at such a difficult stadium, we’ll need another performance like that and we’ll have to be at our very best. We beat them in the Super Cup in July, but Turner is a tough venue and a difficult place to play as we’ll need to be at the top of our game.”
On his opponents’ tactical approach, Miller added:
“Be’ersheva play in an aggressive style. We’ve found solutions against that in our recent games against them, but we have to be prepared for any tactical changes they may try to make. We’ll be ready for everything.”
Having lost Roy Revivo who moved to Spanish side Elche and Saied Abu Farchi who joined MLS club Colorado Rapids, Miller said: “We’ve lost two very good young Israeli players, and there’s no doubt that’s a loss for us. But we always have to be prepared for situations like this. When you have good players, it’s natural that other clubs will be interested in them. We’ve brought in Ester Sokler in the striker position, and we also have Elad Madmon, who has made a great impact in the recent games when he’s come on. As for left-back, we’ll have to find a way to fill the void Roy has left as he gave us a lot going forward with goals and assists, and now we’ll have to find solutions as a team to create the same threat down the left without him.”
Gabi Kanichowsky, who rejoined Maccabi recently should be part of the squad for Monday’s match, as Miller said:
“You’ll definitely see him as part of the squad on Monday, and I have no doubt he’ll get on the pitch at some stage. It’s a signing we’ve been waiting a long time for. We’re absolutely delighted to have him back in yellow and we’re really looking forward to seeing him on Monday.”
With Ofek Melika back in contention after serving his one-match touchline ban,
The coach was also asked whether Roi Mishpati or Ofek Melika would start in goal on Monday:
“That’s a question you’ll get the answer to on Monday. Whenever I’m asked about it, I always stress how pleased we are with our goalkeeping department. We have an excellent goalkeeping coach who I consult with a lot about the strengths of our goalkeepers and which one is better suited to a particular type of game. We have two excellent goalkeepers in Mishpati and Melika, and both of them are more than capable of doing a great job in that position.”
Miller also confirmed that defender Tyrese Asante is expected to be fit and available for Monday’s game.
Finally, Miller was asked about the possibility of further additions before the transfer window closes:
“The work on that continues and will continue right up until the final moment of the window. We’ve seen in the past how much can change in a very short space of time on deadline day. We’re very happy to have Gabi here, and we’ll continue looking to strengthen in other positions to give our squad more depth for the long season ahead.”
“These community initiatives are always very important for a football club and its fans. It’s great that my staff, the players and I can come along to support it, take part and show that we’re fully behind projects like this, which are designed to collect essential goods and help people who are less fortunate.”
Ahead of another encounter against Be’ersheva, Maccabi’s sixth since MD26 last season in mid-April, Miller said: “They’re a team we know very well and one we’ve played a lot since I arrived in Israel. They’re a very good side. We’ve performed very well against them and had positive results in our last four or five meetings, but to get the result we want at such a difficult stadium, we’ll need another performance like that and we’ll have to be at our very best. We beat them in the Super Cup in July, but Turner is a tough venue and a difficult place to play as we’ll need to be at the top of our game.”
On his opponents’ tactical approach, Miller added:
“Be’ersheva play in an aggressive style. We’ve found solutions against that in our recent games against them, but we have to be prepared for any tactical changes they may try to make. We’ll be ready for everything.”
Having lost Roy Revivo who moved to Spanish side Elche and Saied Abu Farchi who joined MLS club Colorado Rapids, Miller said: “We’ve lost two very good young Israeli players, and there’s no doubt that’s a loss for us. But we always have to be prepared for situations like this. When you have good players, it’s natural that other clubs will be interested in them. We’ve brought in Ester Sokler in the striker position, and we also have Elad Madmon, who has made a great impact in the recent games when he’s come on. As for left-back, we’ll have to find a way to fill the void Roy has left as he gave us a lot going forward with goals and assists, and now we’ll have to find solutions as a team to create the same threat down the left without him.”
Gabi Kanichowsky, who rejoined Maccabi recently should be part of the squad for Monday’s match, as Miller said:
“You’ll definitely see him as part of the squad on Monday, and I have no doubt he’ll get on the pitch at some stage. It’s a signing we’ve been waiting a long time for. We’re absolutely delighted to have him back in yellow and we’re really looking forward to seeing him on Monday.”
With Ofek Melika back in contention after serving his one-match touchline ban,
The coach was also asked whether Roi Mishpati or Ofek Melika would start in goal on Monday:
“That’s a question you’ll get the answer to on Monday. Whenever I’m asked about it, I always stress how pleased we are with our goalkeeping department. We have an excellent goalkeeping coach who I consult with a lot about the strengths of our goalkeepers and which one is better suited to a particular type of game. We have two excellent goalkeepers in Mishpati and Melika, and both of them are more than capable of doing a great job in that position.”
Miller also confirmed that defender Tyrese Asante is expected to be fit and available for Monday’s game.
Finally, Miller was asked about the possibility of further additions before the transfer window closes:
“The work on that continues and will continue right up until the final moment of the window. We’ve seen in the past how much can change in a very short space of time on deadline day. We’re very happy to have Gabi here, and we’ll continue looking to strengthen in other positions to give our squad more depth for the long season ahead.”
