Maccabi hosts fourth placed Hapoel Jerusalem on MD33 of the ONE ZERO League as shortly before the encounter at Bloomfield (20:00) Eyal Golasa faced the media and spoke ahead of the match.

On Jerusalem, which suffered only a single defeat in their last four matches of the Playoff of which they beat Ashdod, Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Haifa before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Hapoel Be’ersheva last week, Eyal Golasa said: “They are a side which plays very good football and one can see that in every game they play. We prepare for them accordingly and know it will not be an easy task. We played them in the last month and we will come to do everything we can in order to take all three points. We know what we need to improve in our game and know how we are supposed to play against them. Hopefully, we will manage to do so.”

Despite Maccabi maintaining an unbeaten record in the Playoffs, failure to record a victory in the last two matches led Golasa to say: “This is not the results we wished to have ahead of this game but we are putting this aside, working hard in training and know we have an extremely tough match on Saturday.”

When asked about the lack of goals from players other than Eran Zahavi (19) and Djordje Jovanovic (15), Golasa, who scored 3 league goals just like Enric Saborit, Parfait Guiagon and Gabi Kanichowsky, replied: “In my eyes it is a combination of things. We are working on this in training, finishing in front of goal and other things which could help us at matches and I hope that it could be seen on the pitch. We are feeling relaxed, with no pressure and working well, preparing properly with a good vibe so it should be seen.”

In his 7th season at Maccabi, the 31-year-old midfielder who made 23 league appearances this season and 30 in all competitions, added: “I am a player who is used to play in almost every match, but this is the reality at Maccabi – we have an excellent squad of players and one has to live with that. My role is to work hard and to be always be ready when called upon.”

Golasa, whose contract runs out in the summer and was asked about his future, dismissed any claims that the matter is concerning him: “I wouldn’t like to talk about next season as it is irrelevant. I would like to play for as many games as possible, to prove myself and help the team. We will do a summary at the end of the season and see what happens next.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem faced each other in the league 75 times of which Maccabi won 46, lost 17 while 12 other encounters ended in a draw. The total goal tally between the two sides is 137 goals scored and 69 conceded.

In terms of home matches, Maccabi hosted the Jerusalem side on 37 occasions winning 23 losing 6 and drawing 8 with a goal tally of 71-33.

Both teams faced each other in the Playoffs only twice in the past. Jecki Zarfat and Avi Pitusi scored the goals which awarded Maccabi to a 2-1 victory in the 1988/89 season which had only single Playoff round and was the last time Maccabi played in the bottom Playoff. The second Playoff encounter took place earlier this season as Djordje Jovanovic and Eran Zahavi were on target on the way to a 2-0 victory at eddy stadium.

Maccabi recorded their highest victory over Hapoel Jerusalem (8-1) on MD6 of the 1991/92 season. Eli Driks (3), Meir Melika (2), Avi Nimni, Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) and an own goal by Yigal Menachem scored Maccabi’s goals.

Of the 213 players who featured for Maccabi against Hapoel Jerusalem over the years, Miko Belo, made the most league appearances in that fixture featuring in 32 encounters.

Of the 54 Maccabi players who scored against Hapoel Jerusalem, Giora Spiegel and Avi Nimni, scored 10 goals each to lead the scorers chart in that fixture.

Thirteen players featured for both clubs in the top flight over the years: Liran Strauber, Haim Levin, Ruslan Barsky, Dan Roman, Ran Dzilovsky, Micky Ben Shitrit, Ntzah Masubi, Shaul Cohen, Rafi Cohen (GK), Yehoshua Denishevsky, Dor Jan and Eduardo Gurerro. Maccabi’s on loan midfielder Nadav Niddam completes the list while Roy Revivo who also joined the Jerusalem side on loan in January, has yet to feature for Maccabi in the league.

Maccabi’s official podcast brings you another new and particularly fascinating episode which is all Eran Zahavi. Number 7 arrived at the studio and sat down for a chat which lasted more than an hour with Lior Timor returned to some of the stories behind his career.

Zahavi recalls, amongst other things, some of his important moments at Maccabi, gives a behind the scenes insight to the significant negotiations in his life, speaks about the two coaches who played a key role in the upgrade to his Maccabi career, and reveals what went into his head during that derby which never ended. If you had any doubts – this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

You are welcome to watch the episode here on the App or listen to it On: Spotify or Google Podcasts in the links here below:

 

 

 

Shahar,

On 20.3.18 at 19:52, our lives were changed forever. That cursed shot that pierced the air took you away from us.

I will never forget the moment when they told me the bitter news: It was right before I finished the officer’s course. Everyone, all of our friends were in the army. Suddenly there is a warning that a soldier in “Duvdevan” was hurt. We each had a feeling that it was you. We tried calling you so many times but there was no answer. In the end, your name was flying on the screen and a dark screen fell upon all of us.

From all of the army bases, we began to return to Givatayim. All of us, soldiers in the IDF, not digesting what has happened. In the last year, time has stood still.

The Shabbat before the disaster, we sat together at the beach, joking about life, speaking about what we will do after we are released from the army. It’s crazy how fluid life is. In a second it can all be over.

We met in fourth grade when we joined the scouts in Givatayim. We discovered that we have a common hobby, Maccabi Tel Aviv, FC. We spent most of our childhood with the team, going to games or running around the country.

We called ourselves “Side G”, the fans from Givatayim, those who don’t miss a game and find every possible way to get to the games. The happiest and saddest moments were with the team.

I remember the cup final against Be’er Sheva. It was the same day as our math Bagrut matriculation exam. Of course, we didn’t think twice. We finished the exam as quickly as possible and then rushed over to Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa so that we could get good seats. We did everything for the team! There was even a point where we worked for the club. We were so happy to be close to the players. Then there were the championships that kept us very happy and the rest is history.

We were able to do everything together, trips abroad, trips to every hole in Israel following our favorite team. We were counselors together, we went to parties. We traveled together more than with our families.

When we say “salt of the earth”, we are referring to you, Shahar. Your smile never left your face. Even when we were having a hard time in the army, you made sure to send a funny picture or call us to lift our spirits. You were our pride. You did everything in the nicest way. That is what brought you to be in such a special unit and you were so proud when you joined. You never fought with anybody. When you started to speak, we could see the great amounts of joy for life that you had. Shahar, we wanted to tell you that this year, we were champions. Maccabi is playing like it never did before. We feel that it is because of you. We do not stop waving the shirt with your picture on it at all of the great moments. We always cry when you are not with us. We know how happy you are and now we are sure. We miss you so much and going to games is so difficult without you. We promise to continue to perpetuate you and your path and you are always with us in spirit in everything that we do.

We love you so much and we will not forget,

Shabi, Tubias and Erez

The “G-side”