Maccabi Tel Aviv’s players left Israel this morning and while the war in Gaza continues headed out to Poland where they will prepare for Thursday’s Conference League match against Zorya Luhansk at Lublin.

The players arrived at Ben Gurion airport this morning (Sunday) before flying out to Poland where they will team-up with the coaching staff and foreign players who have been all training there over the past week. Later this week, the team will move to Lublin where they will face the Ukrainian side for the MD4 Conference League away match.

The reverse fixture which will see Maccabi host Zorya and was supposed to have been played on October 26th was postponed by UEFA last month and has been rescheduled for November 25th.

rior to their departure to Poland on Sunday ahead of Thursday’s Conference League match against Zorya Luhansk, Maccabi’s players arrived at Bloomfield stadium today. The players were all wearing Tshirts with the slogan BRING THEM HOME as part of the campaign to return those kidnapped and currently held hostage in Gaza.

he players and club employees met with Yoseph Haddad, an Arab-Israeli advocacy activist and social media influencer who recently became one of Israel’s leading ambassadors for international advocacy during the war. Hadad spoke with the players and shared his unique story as well as explaining how he uses the tools he has, to help defend Israel in the public domain. Haddad, shared some tips and strategies to improve Israel’s advocacy abroad.

Eran Zahavi faced the media who were present and related to the hostages’ topic, two of which are twins and Maccabi fans – Gali and Ziv Berman. “This sends shivers down my spine, all these stories that keep on hitting you. You get to hear something new all the time as a horror story follows a horror a story which leaves you speechless. We are talking of two of our fans, twins who even purchased tickets to the match we were supposed to play against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy (on October 8^th). It is just incomprehensible.    

On the importance of advocacy ahead of both Maccabi’s and the national team’s matches, Zahavi added: “As players we must use our influence on the public through our social media. I am delighted that recently, many people and not just those with a large following, but those in key positions who can influence – used every tool they had for advocacy. Obviously, if called upon, I will arrive more prepared for press conferences.”

“We have this sense like we are on a mission and as long as we play in Europe as a club, let alone as a national team representing our country we try our hardest to make those supporting us from home – happy.” Zahavi added, “These missions are complex to say the least especially at such a difficult time, but if one has a way to give back to the country some moments of joy through sports, we will do it. Sport has the power to bridges divides, cultures, religions and through sport everything is possible.”

The 36-year-old forward then related to work Haddad dedicated himself to, as he added: “I am an admirer of Youseph. His advocacy is extremely important especially in the wake of the complex situation he is in (Being an Arab Israeli). I asked him a question about players and Arab people in general who are in a complex situation, and we must understand that.  On the other hand, if they let their opinion be heard they could earn us and the support of the State of Israel by their side. If we would all like to live here side by side and we really appreciated the idea Youseph has raised, this should be a partnership of coexistence because we have been living here together and this is never going to change. We are here to stay and we must do everything together to the best of our ability. We must learn to trust each other, to believe in one another, and to use the same words until those words turn into deeds.”

 

Prior to their departure to Poland on Sunday ahead of Thursday’s Conference League match against Zorya Luhansk, Maccabi’s players arrived at Bloomfield stadium today. The players were all wearing Tshirts with the slogan BRING THEM HOME as part of the campaign to return those kidnapped and currently held hostage in Gaza.

The players and club employees met with Yoseph Haddad, an Arab-Israeli advocacy activist and social media influencer who recently became one of Israel’s leading ambassadors for international advocacy during the war. Hadad spoke with the players and shared his unique story as well as explaining how he uses the tools he has, to help defend Israel in the public domain. Haddad, shared some tips and strategies to improve Israel’s advocacy abroad.

Eran Zahavi faced the media who were present and related to the hostages’ topic, two of which are twins and Maccabi fans – Gali and Ziv Berman. “This sends shivers down my spine, all these stories that keep on hitting you. You get to hear something new all the time as a horror story follows a horror a story which leaves you speechless. We are talking of two of our fans, twins who even purchased tickets to the match we were supposed to play against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy (on October 8^th). It is just incomprehensible.    

On the importance of advocacy ahead of both Maccabi’s and the national team’s matches, Zahavi added: “As players we must use our influence on the public through our social media. I am delighted that recently, many people and not just those with a large following, but those in key positions who can influence – used every tool they had for advocacy. Obviously, if called upon, I will arrive more prepared for press conferences.”

“We have this sense like we are on a mission and as long as we play in Europe as a club, let alone as a national team representing our country we try our hardest to make those supporting us from home – happy.” Zahavi added, “These missions are complex to say the least especially at such a difficult time, but if one has a way to give back to the country some moments of joy through sports, we will do it. Sport has the power to bridges divides, cultures, religions and through sport everything is possible.”

The 36-year-old forward then related to work Haddad dedicated himself to, as he added: “I am an admirer of Youseph. His advocacy is extremely important especially in the wake of the complex situation he is in (Being an Arab Israeli). I asked him a question about players and Arab people in general who are in a complex situation, and we must understand that.  On the other hand, if they let their opinion be heard they could earn us and the support of the State of Israel by their side. If we would all like to live here side by side and we really appreciated the idea Youseph has raised, this should be a partnership of coexistence because we have been living here together and this is never going to change. We are here to stay and we must do everything together to the best of our ability. We must learn to trust each other, to believe in one another, and to use the same words until those words turn into deeds.”

Maccabi stepped up the preparations for next week’s Conference League match against Zorya in Poland as they hosted Bnei Yehuda for a friendly at Kiryat Shalom.

Prior to kickoff both teams observed a minute of silence in memory of those murdered on October 7th and killed defending the country.

Bnei Yehuda opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Yaniv Mizrahi’s shot from the edge of the area found Roi Mishpati’s top corner. Three minutes after the half hour mark, Maccabi were back on level terms as Dan Biton’s free kick eluded the vositors’ defence and bounced in.

Maccabi changed most of its team after the interval with the remaining three substitutes were replaced on the hour. Eight minutes later, Maccabi completed the comeback after Yonatan Cohen was fouled in the penalty box. Referees Gal Leibovic awarded a spot kick, which was successfully converted by Cohen to end the friendly with a 2-1 victory.

Maccabi: Roi Mishpati (Daniel Tenenbaum 46), Avishai Cohen (Noam Scwartz 46), Idan Nachmias (Itay Malme 60), Nir Bitton (Adir Cordoba 46), Roy Revivo (Ofir Davidzada 46), Sheran Yeini (Ido Shahar 46), Dor Peretz (Ido Oli 46), Gabi Kanichowsky (Eyal Golasa 60), Dan Biton (Yonatan Cohen 46), Dor Turgeman (Osher Davida 46), Eran Zahavi (Sayid Abu Farhi 60).

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation continued its’ activity in the community as today (Monday) Sheran Yeini and Eran Zahavi visited the Dan Panorma hotel in Tel Aviv where they met with kids who were evacuated from communities near the North and South borders.

Both players answered questions the kids asked them, had their photos taken, signed autographs, and handed out official club gifts.

Zahavi was asked to share his experience since October 7^th as the veteran marksman replied: “We all changed our lives, but we made some minor change yet there are people here whose changes are drastic. They were uprooted from their homes. We are here to try and cheer them up even a little bit. Lets hope that this period would end as quick as possible. The most important thing these days in my opinion is to be kind to each other. I think we are doing this as a nation – being as strong as possible so that we could survive this period in the best possible way.”

Zahavi was then asked about his recent return to the national team squad and replied: “It is a good feeling as it is always nice to be part of the national team set-up. I am delighted to be there now and will try and do my best to make our nation happy. We all deserve a few moments of happiness and really hope we could do it.”

Zahavi, who was overlooked by the national team during the past year, explained hos the current climate influenced his decision: “It was an important factor of my decision, let bygones be bygones, both from my side and the national team which was mutual. The most important thing right now is to set an example as leaders, as people who looked at, to show one can make concessions for the greater good which is more than we are used to. It wasn’t something easy for me, not in terms of ego but to put aside my professional conduct which guided me for years. I simply decided to taker a plunge for the greater good and lest see what happens.”

Sheran Yeini also shared from the experience he had over the past few weeks and said: “Such activities and a visit like that fills us with a good feeling, knowing we are here to help. Sometimes I am surprised at the extent of the power we have when we speak to people about football or even play football with them. Things like that help them forget or distracts them for a moment as they even laugh with you. We really try to do as much as we can for society. We are very fortunate because we haven’t experienced such horrors and are capable of smiling. But just like the entire country we conduct ourselves on a day-by- day basis and occupy ourselves with strengthening the families. My wife volunteers at the civil-center war room where civilians locate the kidnapped and missing persons. So we are all working around the clock.”

On the teams’ return to action for the Conference League match against Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk, Maccabi’s captain said: “Football has taken a back seat now, as we are all experiencing days of national mourning following what had happened. I really hope that all those who were kidnapped and held hostage would return and we will not suffer more losses of soldiers which is the most important thing. This is paramount to us right now, a lot more than football. We asked Maccabi to postpone the first match (which was scheduled to October 26^th) because we are all still in a mourning phase, but we can’t postpone any further and a decision needs to be made. I spoke to the guys from Kfar Aza and they told me they would like to see us play again, to watch us and see teams represent the country. This is their way to escape from the horrors they experienced.”

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation continues its’ community activities as on Thursday several first team players joined in to host families who were evacuated from the South of Israel.

Dozens of kids accompanied by their parents from the towns of Sderot and Netiv HaAsara arrived at Bloomfield stadium and enjoyed an extra ordinary experience. The visitors, who had an extensive tour of the stadium, got a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes before, during and after matches. The guests visited the dressing rooms, the Press Conference and even had their photo taken pitch-side.

Gabi Kanichowsky, Dor Peretz and Roi Mishpati hosted and entertained the kids as they signed autographs, had their photos taken with them and handed out official club gifts. Maccabi’s business partner Pizza Prego supplied the lunch to the delight of the kids.

Mishpati, explained what he and his teammates have been doing during this time: “Sadly over the past couple of weeks we have been attending funerals and going to console families whose loved ones were murdered or killed. We are doing whatever we can to try and strengthen the fans of Maccabi and their families. I really hope that we would return to normality as fast as possible, and we would all remain strong.”

On meeting the kids at Bloomfield, Mishpati added: “We met here with some amazing kids from the Gaza border communities. We try and give them as much strength as we possibly can, hear the stories they decide to share with us and feel their pain from the entire situation. I really hope we manage to strengthen them and warm their hearts a little.” The 30-year-old keeper explained the irregular routine both he and his teammates are currently experiencing: “The situation is complex. We are trying to train to the best of our ability in the wake of the sirens which go off every now and then. Our goal is to prepare for our next match against Zorya on November 9th. At the end of our training sessions, we attend funerals, Shiva’as or visit centers where people from Gaza border communities were evacuated to try and cheer kids up. I hope we will return to normality as soon as possible and with god’s will, all the hostages will return home.“

One of the kids visiting Bloomfield was Nehorai of Sderot, who said: “We are grateful for this tour of the stadium. It completely transformed my mood from the difficult situation we all have here. This is by all means a very difficult period of time.” He then shared the tough experience both he and his family endured ever since the war began on October 7th and how they dealt with what had happened.

The Maccabi foundation had several daily activities across the country where Dor Peretz and Daniel Tenenbaum visited families who were evacuated from the South and North of Israel. Youth Academy staff also continued their contribution to the community as they held training sessions for kids in various centers across the country.

UEFA accepted Maccabi Tel Aviv’s request to postpone the Conference League MD3 match against Zorya Luhansk to November 25th. The European Football governing body announced the postponement of the match originally scheduled for October 26th to November 25th after holding discussions over the past few days and the agreement of all parties involved. The exact kickoff time will be announced at a later stage.