The Israel Under-19 National Team is currently at a European Championship qualification tournament in Andorra. Three players from the Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv squad are part of the Blue & White including Captain Tomer Altman, Eylon Almog and Bar Galili. Haviv Ohayon who is on loan at Watford is also part of the team and is the team’s first choice keeper.

On Tuesday, the National Team recorded a 3:2 win over Andorra. All of the Maccabi players took part in the match and on Thursday they will face Lichtenstein while on Monday they will take on Scotland.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 2:0 Hapoel “Nisanov” Tel Aviv

A big Derby win for Guy Tzarfati, his first as Head Coach of the Under-19 team in the Youth Ligat Ha’Al. Or Dasa assisted on Amit Shapira’s 15th minute goal while Eylon Almog doubled the score in the 75th minute as he blasted home Maccabi’s second goal of the match for the 2:0 win over Hapoel.

A fantastic victory by Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side gave Maccabi “Oded” 3 points over their counterparts from the Carmel. Amit Mordciov gave the young Yellow & Blue the second half lead while Gil Rahimi added the insurance marker later on in the second half.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv 1:2 Maccabi “Goldschenfeld” Haifa

Alon Brumer’s squad fell to Haifa at Kiryat Shalom as the visitors scored two first half goals while Tal Yugudaev’s goal was only able to cut the lead in half.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 4:1 Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion

Or Roizman, Nehori Bitton, Stav Nachmani and Amit Havruni all scored for Ori David’s club as the Yellow & Blue defeated the wine city side at Kiryat Shalom.

Maccabi Barkai 1:6 Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv

Amir Sofer and his side travelled to Kibbitz Barkai where they recorded a big victory on goals by Yehali Lazar (hat-trick), Niv Berkovic and Yishai Bozorgi to go along with an own goal by Maccabi Barkai.

Tomer Altman discussed Saturday’s Under-19 Derby at Ramle Stadium, 15:45 when the Yellow & Blue host Hapoel Tel Aviv. The Captain also reflected on the team’s recent results, the learning curve and the changes that the Club’s Performance Director has instituted:

“Patrick Van Leeuwen has brought in a new and different mentality and it’s been taking us some time to acclimate to the changes as you can see from our recent results. But I believe that this Saturday everyone will see an improvement as the players are beginning to really understand the nuances and demands.”

Learning curve:

“Mistakes are definitely part of the game and there has to be room to allow for that. The staff is beginning to demand more from us and we have to adjust because the learning period is coming to a close and we have to start getting some good results.”

Importance of the Derby:

“All of the guys are definitely in the loop that there is a Derby and I’ll say some extra words about its importance. I’ll also remind them how badly we all felt after last year’s Derby losses.”

Encouraging the fans to come out for the Derby:

“We’d be thrilled to see a huge crowd come out to Ramle for the Derby and it will give us an extra push. We all want to experience the same atmosphere as the First Team does when they play against Hapoel Tel Aviv.”

Under-19 Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about Saturday’s Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Ramle Stadium, 15:45 while also looking at the important process that is now going on within the Maccabi Youth Department and the goals that are being put into place:

“I think that what is happening now in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department is something brand new to Israeli football. The standards of the training sessions and the coaches to everything surrounding the department is at the highest of levels. The same is true with the demands that are being placed on the players and the whole coaching staff. I believe that this is an excellent and the results will be seen over the next few years. I’m thrilled to be a part of this process.”

Saturday’s Derby:

“The word Derby gives me goosebumps any time I talk about playing against Hapoel Tel Aviv and it’s very exciting. But as a coach and a teacher I have to make sure the players know that the path that we are on is of the utmost importance and that we have organizational standards that have to be put in place at both practices and during games themselves. I hope that we can continue on the path that we are on no matter what team we are facing. Of course winning the Derby would be great and would give us tremendous satisfaction. I hope that we do exactly that on Saturday.”

The goals at Maccabi’s Youth Department:

“As someone who has seen the various youth departments around the country, the focus is on titles, championships and cups. Here at Maccabi our goal is to help produce quality players and to simulate as much as possible what the Senior Team does which in itself is a totally different world than what occurs at youth departments in general.

We can’t forget that the process that the youth players go through on the way to the First Team also includes the army and there are times when the players don’t completely acclimate. So we put a lot of pressure and demands on them during the training sessions and the matches that we play both during the week and not only on Saturday. This way the players will be more prepared and closer to the ultimate goal which is to play with the Senior Team.”

Encouraging the fans to come out to Ramle to support the team tomorrow:

“I spoke to the guys a lot about this and it’s important for them that everyone comes out to cheer them on and support them. The fans will get to see the future stars who are training and working very hard and want to represent Maccabi honorably and eventually get to the First Team. I think that it would be great if the fans come and root them on.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:1 Bnei Sakhnin
Matchday Five pitted the young Yellow & Blue against Bnei Sakhnin at the Ramle Stadium. Netanel Peretz gave the hosts a first half lead but a 77th goal by Sakhnin drew the sides even after Eden Kartzev was issued a red card. Next week Maccabi “Shachar” will host Hapoel in the Tel Aviv Derby.

Hapoel “Tzachi Ben Porat” Tel Aviv 2:3 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv
A dramatic Under-17 Derby took place at Wolfson on Saturday as Eliezer Ben Aharon’s club came back from a 1:0 deficit with 3 straight first half goals by Sa’ar Berami, Omer Berami and Toner Mahlouf to score the victory. The Reds cut the lead to one just before the break but Maccabi “Oded” held on to pick up the 3-points.

Maccabi “Moshe Dayan” Petach Tikva 1:0 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv
Alon Brumer’s side suffered its first defeat of the season falling to Maccabi Petach Tikva 1:0 away. Eyal Inbrum scored the lone goal of the match for the hosts.

Hapoel “Shlomi Wartsel” Petach Tikva 0:7 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv
The Under-15 team moved into first place as Ori David’s club won big away at Hapoel Petach Tikva. Stav Nachmani scored a hattrick while Itay Ben Hamou picked up a brace as Or Roizman and Eli Hadar each scored a goal a piece in favor of the Yellow & Blue.

Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv 1:0 Bnei Sakhnin
A 79th minute strike by Yeheli Lazar made all the difference for Amir Sofer’s side as the second Under-15 squad beat Sakhnin at Kiryat Shalom.

Matchday Five featured the Under-19 side hosting Bnei Sakhnin at the Ramle Stadium after the visitors had asked to change home matches. Maccabi “Shachar” came into the match after a loss last week to Hapoel Raanana and looked to get back on the winning track. Guy Tzarfati started Mahmoud Awesat and Or Dasa on the wings while Eylon Almog played in the hole.

First Half

Both sides didn’t produce many opportunities in the first half as it was quiet early on. Eden Kartzev and Or Dasa tried their luck a number of times, however, Tomer Haran for Sakhnin was in the right place at the right time. Maccabi’s shot stopper Omer Katz also was up to the task as he denied the visitors on two wonderful opportunities.

But Maccabi didn’t want to leave the first half empty handed as Netanel Peretz blasted a shot that went through the Sakhnin defense and into the goal. 1:0 for Maccabi in the 45th minute as the two teams went down to the dressing rooms at the half.

Second Half

Both clubs started the second frame with the same Starting XI and in the 49th minute Omer Katz was called upon to make a brilliant save to keep his team in front. However, in the 66th minute Eden Kartzev committed a foul good for a second yellow card and an automatic ejection from the match. Tzarfati introduced Raani Hamze, Amit Shapira and Dor Galili, but they didn’t stop Osama Halila’s tying goal.

Ron Zamir’s entrance didn’t help either as the sides split the points. Next Matchday the young Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.