Maccabi travels to Doha stadium this evening for the MD8 ONE ZERO League encounter away to Bnei Sakhnin (20:00). Avishai Cohen faced the media at the pre-match press conference where he spoke of his impressive start to the season as well as football in Israel these days.
Cohen, who made nine appearances in all competitions since joining Maccabi towards the end of the transfer window after seeing out his contract at Beitar Jerusalem, said: “I am delighted to be here as I arrived with a clear task to get into shape as quickly as possible. After experiencing quite a difficult summer I am just delighted to be here. The coach and his staff gave me a chance and I am just happy to prove what I am worth on the pitch every day.”
Sakhnin had a decent start to the season under Slobodan Drapjic and are currently sixth in the table with nine points having won 2 drawn 4 and lost only once. Darpjic played a key role in Cohen’s development as whilst at Beitar he switched his position from a winger to a more defensive role as a full-back. “When I was promoted to the senior side, I used to play as a winger and things didn’t work out that well. Drapjic changed my position to full-back, which took me some time to adapt and understand the new role. I am late bloomer but better late than ever. To join Maccabi and be called up to the national team is a dream come true for me as I really want to stay here for many years and fulfill myself.”
On the competition for places at Maccabi, Cohen added: “There are very good players in every position, so everyone is fighting for a place in the team and a place in the squad. I am delighted to be playing and proving myself as just like the coach always says ‘whoever proves himself on the pitch and takes his chances will keep on playing.”
When asked about what it feels like to be playing football under the current climate and in view of the war Israel is currently experiencing, Cohen summed up: “Ultimately as a country we should know how to rise-up and emerge stronger to be able to continue our routine. There is no doubt that the situation is extremely difficult to play after what had happened to all of us on October 7th, something we will never forget as it is a horrendous disaster to our country and the Jewish nation. Just like everyone else we also wake up each morning and hear about more of our fatalities in Gaza. Personally, my school teacher at Hatzvi high-school died in action and there are lots of friends of mine who were at the party near kibbutz Re’im. It is not simple, but we would also like to continue for them , for our entire nation – to show the world that we don’t crack and will continue our routine.”
