Yesterday the MTA squad played their last game at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium in Haifa and are now preparing for the title celebrations this evening
The night before Maccabi Tel Aviv's official championship celebrations at Tel Aviv's Ganei Yehoshua, the team played their last match at Haifa's Kiryat Eliezer Stadium. After the match, MTA head coach Paulo Sousa spoke of those celebrations, saying that "the celebrations are important, also because this season was really, really amazing and I think our family needs to be an enormous presence there today to celebrate this whole fantastic season".
Midfielder Eran Zahavi, whose brace brought him level with Hapoel Tel Aviv striker Omar Damari in the race for the Israeli Premier league's top scorer, said: "Thanks for all the support, I'm here to improve and help my club to win, we're back in centre stage and that's where we belong. I'm happy I can help to achieve the team's goals and I want to thank all my teammates who help me and support me like I've never seen before in my career". He added: "I'm happy to play in any position the gaffer wants me to, as long as I'm out there on the pitch. Omar Damari is an excellent player having a brilliant season and I want to join in all the kudos, because he deserves them. Whoever scores more goals, well, he'll lead the league and if it's Omar, well then he'll get my vote. At the end of the day it's a sports competition, nothing more". As for comparisons with Maccabi's all-time leading goalscorer, Aviv Nimni, Zahavi said: "Everyone has their place in the history books, no-one's going to take anything away from Avi Nimni – I'm honoured to be compared with him because he was a example to all of us, on and off the pitch". Eran finished with a personal invitation to all of Maccabi Tel Aviv's fans to join in the festivities this evening: "I invite all of you to come tomorrow to the celebrations at Ganei Yehoshua, you're all amazing and you've supported us all the way, today too. It'll be quite a bash and let's all get out and enjoy it".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spPKVZAt2lg&list=UU-oWQqnf8B8a_TsmVi0mTUg
Goalkeeper Barak Levi, who guarded the MTA net, said: "Recently we've demonstrated a great deal of character, we never give up and we stick together no matter what. Even when we concede we go straight for the equaliser. I've learnt from every goalkeeper and I work with them but it's hard being second keep. Anyway, I have Shura Uvarov (MTA goalkeeping coach) and it's a great privilege to learn from him".
