As Maccabi’s most experienced player in the squad, Dor Peretz has been through a fair share of irregular spells at the club. The 30-year-old Maccabi captain faced the media ahead of the league’s return after an imposed break during the ongoing war with Iran. Reflecting on recent weeks which saw football take a back-seat, Peretz said: “We went through an unusual time. At first, we trained with an Israeli coaching staff. Ronny (Deila) and the staff returned, the foreign players came back, and the energy returned very quickly as well. The work in training and the seriousness reflect the point where we left off before the war. I am very happy with everyone who is here, all focus is on Sunday.”

“At the beginning of the war we were at home with our families,” Peretz added. “The foreign players later gathered in Cyprus, while we were here a few days after the war began. Thankfully, the work here followed the coaching staff’s guidelines, under the direction of Avi Rikan and Israel Kakun we had a great tempo, excellent training sessions, and good energy despite an unusual reality. We are trying to do the best we can, as we always do.”

On the return to league action during wartime, Peretz added: “It is not an ideal situation, let’s be honest. Everyone knows that, but it’s the right decision. We wish we could play in a full stadium without sirens, but that’s not the reality right now. This is the situation, and we have to deliver as much as we can.”

While Ali Camara, Tyrese Asante, Helio Varela and Issouf Sissokho are back with the team, several others are exoected to rejoin in the near future, as Peretz added: “I spoke with all of the foreign players in the first few days. It was important for me to stay in touch and give them confidence. It’s not a pleasant situation, I understand them, and that’s okay. Whoever is here will give their best, and that will be enough.”

On the mental challenge of playing without fans, Peretz admitted: “When there’s no fans we have to push ourselves as much as possible to recover in the best way between matches. There are no second chances.”

Ahead of Sunday’s match at Sammy Ofer, he said: “Hapoel Haifa are a completely different team since January. Our main objective is to win the match and do it in the best possible way. Long-term goals? Right now, in our current situation, that’s not relevant. We need to go game by game and produce the best football we can. There are 12 league matches and two cup games left, there’s no room to drop our standards”.

The March international break is underway, as Maccabi’s players will be in action as part of the various national teams. The international roll-call will include:
Dor Peretz, Roy Revivo, and Itamar Noy are all part of Ran Ben Shimon’s National Team squad as Israel’s senior side face Georgia for a friendly at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium in Tbilisi on Thursday March 26th at 19:00.

Ofek Melika, Noam Ben Harush, and Saied Abu Farchi are all included in Israel’s U21 national team which will face a Hungary U21 side for a friendly at the Pancho Arena in Felcsut Hungary at 21:30 on Thursday. The Maccabi trio are all set to feature in Guy Luzon’s U21’s which will host their Group 9 European Championship qualifier against Bosnia at the BSC Stadium in Budaörs Hungary next Tuesday (March 31st).

Ilay Ben Simon is with the Israel U-18 national team playing the elite qualifying round of the U-18 European Championship qualifying campaign, where Ofir Haim’s side will face Austria, Germany, and Bosnia.
In addition to Ben Simon, other representatives from the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team in the squad are: Noam Levy, Leroy Abrebaya, and Yehonatan Kotzer.
March 25th – Israel U18’s v Austria U18’s
March 28th – Germany U18’s v Israel U18’s
March 31st – Bosnia and Herzegovina U18’s v Israel U18’s
(all matches in Austria)

The IPFL board announced today , its decision to return to league action on the weekend of April 4th. In accordance with Home Front Command guidelines, the matches will be played at this stage behind closed doors and with only a limited number of officials present (up to 150 per match).

Maccabi’s State Cup Semi-final against Maccabi Haifa will take place on April 15th.

We hope to see you back in the stands as soon as possible, and we pray for quieter and safer days ahead.

Match dates:
MD 25, Sunday, April 5th: Hapoel Haifa v Maccabi Tel Aviv, (Sammy Ofer, 20:15)

MD26, Sunday, April 12th: Maccabi Tel Aviv v Hapoel Be’ersheva, (Bloomfield, 20:30)

First Half:

Twenty minutes from the start Osher Davida broke into the Petah Tikva box from the right before he was brought down inside the area but referee Aviel Levy decided it wasn’t worthy of a penalty.

Five minutes later the deadlock was broken as Issouf Sissokho won possession deep inside Petah Tikva’s half before bursting into the area. The 24-year-old Malian midfielder squared to towards Davida who swept the ball home past Omer Katz.

Second Half:

Maccabi’s assistant coach Avi Rikan made four changes at the restart as Roi Mishpati replaced Ofek Melika in goal. Noam Ben Harush came on for Yonas Malede and slotted into the right back role with Sagiv Jehezkel pushing forward. Itamar Noy replaced Sissokho with Ido Shahar coming on for Kervin Andrade.

In the 51st ninute Petah Tikva were back on level terms after Shavit Mazal swept in a square ball past Mishpati. Ilay Ben Simon replaced Sagiv Jehezkel just before the hour mark. Rikan made another triple substitution as Liran Spiegel stepped in for Roy Revivo, Ben Lederman replaces Dor Peretz while Elad Madmon came on for Saied Abu Farchi.

In the 66th ninute Maccabi restored their lead as Petah Tikva’s substitute keeper Shahar Amsalem managed to save Shahar’s powerful drive but could do nothing to leep out Ben Simon rebound.

Yoav Junio replaced Davida for the final 20 minutes while Noam Levy stepped in for Itay Ben Hemo five minutes later.

In the 79th minute Petah Tikva levelled the score once again after Ari Cohen volleyed in Noam Cohen’s knock down to set the score at 2-2.

Maccabi: Ofek Melika (Roi Mishpati 46), Sagiv Jehezkel, Itay Ben Hemo (Noam Levy 75), Idan Weinberg, Roy Revivo (Liran Spiegel 60), Issouf Sissokho (Itamar Noy 46), Dor Peretz (Ben Lederman 61), Kervin Andrade (Ido Shahar 46), Osher Davida (Yoav Junio 70), Yonas Malede (Noam Ben Harush 46), Saied Abu Farchi (Elad Madmon 61).

An exchange of passes between Kervin Andrade and Dor Peretz in the opening minute of the game set up Itamar Noy who swept the ball home in the opening minute.

On the stroke of halftime, Yonas Malede who came on for Kervin Andrade in the 33^rd minute was sent through by Noam Ben Harush. Malede charged into the area and was tripped by goalkeeper Nadav Zamir before referee Gal Levy awarded a penalty. Saied Abu Farchi stepped up and slotted the penalty past Zamir to double Maccabi’s lead.

In the absence of most of the foreign contingent who are currently training in Cyprus, assistant coach Avi Rikan made several changes at the interval.

Roi Mishpati replaced Ofek Melika, Ben Lederman came on for Issouf Sissokho while Ido Shahar replaced Dor Peretz.

Hapoel Jerusalem cut the deficit as Noy lost possession on the edge of the area before Ohad Almagor fired past Mishpati to cut the deficit.

Abu Farchi came close to score Maccabi’s third and double his tally as he headed a Malede cross against the post.  

Several youth team players were introduced in the closing stages and gained important experience at senior level.

Maccabi: Ofek Melika(Roi Mishpati 46), Noam Ben Harush (Yoav Junio 71), Itay Ben Hemo (Noam Levy 71), Idan Weinberg, Roy Revivo (Yehonatan Kotzer 56), Issouf Sissokho (Ben Lederman 46), Dor Peretz (Ido Shahar 46),  Itamar Noy (Ilay Ben Simon 64), Kervin Andrade (Yonas Malede 33, Itai Zafrani 83), Osher Davida (Sagiv Jehezkel 55), Saied Abu Farchi (Elad Madmon 64).