Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is bidding farewell from Chico Ofoedu after two years in Yellow and Blue following the contract expiry of the 27-year-old forward. 

Maccabi would also like to bid farewell from Andre Geraldes as the 29-year-old right back completed his season long loan from Sporting Lisbon. 

Ofoedu joined Maccabi in July 2018 from Turkish outfit Eskisehrispor, and played an integral part in the winning two league titles, the Toto Cup and Super Cup.

The Nigerian forward scored 19 goals for Maccabi including a goal in the Europa League qualifying campaign, added 7 assists in 60 matches in all competitions wearing the Yellow and Blue.

Geraldes, who joined Maccabi on-loan from Sporting in July 2019, has three assists to his name in 35 appearances in all competitions as well as playing an integral part in the team winning the League title and the Super Cup.

e dupe Chico 

obrigado Andre

Ben Bitton (29) signed at Maccabi until the end of the 2020/21 season with an option to extend by a further season after joining from Hapoel Be’ersheva where he played in the past seven seasons.

Bitton, who successfully underwent a medical test at the club and will wear the number 2 shirt at Maccabi, told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to join Maccabi Tel Aviv and experience the strengths of this great club. As someone who already won a league title in the past I know that it is a lot more difficult to protect it. We will therefore now aim for as high as possible in a bid to register as many achievements at Maccabi”.

Maccabi’s Chief Operating Officer, Sharon Tammam, added: “We are delighted to add to add Ben to Maccabi Tel Aviv and are all convinced that he will contribute a lot in the near and distant future on the way to achieving all our targets. Welcome Ben and good luck”. 

Bitton began his playing career at Hapoel Tel Aviv’s Youth Department before moving to Sektzia Nes Ziona in 2010/11 and where he made his senior debut and 89 appearances in all competitions. After two seasons at Nes Ziona, Bitton joined Hapoel Nazareth Ilit who later changed its’ name to Nof Hagalil and made 37 appearances in all competitions. Ahead of the 2013/14 season, Bitton moved to Hapoel Be’ersheva and his second season scored his debut senior goal in a league match against Ironi Kiryat Shmona (2.12.14).

Bitton played a key role in Be’ersheva three successive league championships (15/16, 16/17 and 17/18) as to his personal trophy cabinet were also added a SuperCup medal (17/18) and a State Cup medal (19/20) in addition to appearances in the Europa League group stage.

Itay Schechter scored the only goal of the game as Maccabi Tel Aviv ended the pre-season training camp with a 1-0 friendly victory over Beitar at Teddy stadium.

Ten minutes from the start, Itay Schechter’s pressure on Itamar Nitzan paid off as Beitar’s keeper attempt of a clearance ricoshet off the veteran forward and bounced into the net to open the score. Six minutes later Daniel Tenebaum pulled a stunning save to tip Idan Vered’s fierce drive over the crossbar.

Enric Saborit missed a glorious chance to double the score on 21 as Ofir Davidzada picked him with a pinpoint cross from the left. But the Spanish left-back who was left unmarked deep in the area, guided his header wide of the target. Eylon Almog came close but saw his shot in the 25th minute deflected for a corner after Schechter managed to dispossess Beitar’s defense.

On 38 Almog flashed a shot across the face of goal as he charged forward from the halfway line before repeating the miss from the exact spot two minutes later following a clever Ido Schahar pass.

Maccabi continued dominating as Nitzan was forced to dive and push out Dor Peretz’s volley from the edge of the area on the stroke of halftime. Shlomi Ben Avraham’s halftime whistle sent both teams for a well deserved break from the heat, as Performance Director Patrick Van Leeuwen sent out 11 new players for the second half. 

Seven minutes after the hour mark, Dor Turgeman and Bar Cohen combined well, but the winger’s low cross couldn’t find a finishing touch. 

Daniel Peretz reacted well to parry  Shalom Edri’s powerful shot from the edge of the area on 75.

Daniel Peretz positioned himself well to deny Levi Garcia’s free kick on 85 and pulled a stunning save to Garcia once again inside injury time. Eliran Atar flashed a shot over the crossbar as this was the closest Beitar could manage. 

At the end of the game Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen who guided the team, said: “We played against a serious side that is also in pre-season at an irregular kickoff time for the players to play at. At this game as well we played with 2 line-ups – 11 in each half, so all the players could get to play 45 minutes and show their ability”.

Midfielder, Dor Peretz, added: “We played a good game as we are beginning to implement the tactical principles of the game the coach introduced us. We are looking much better and this was evident today on the pitch”.

Maccabi took an early lead in the 9th minute as Jonathan Cohen charged down the left before cutting the ball back to Nick Blackman whose delicate left foot flick beat Katamon’s keeper Adebayo Adeleye.  Five minutes later  Andreas Gianniotis’ attempt of a clearance fell to Ashta Awaka who needed one touch to slot in the equaliser from the edge of the area.

Eylon Almog rattled the woodwork with a powerful drive in the 27th minute.

Four minutes after the half hour mark Katamon took the lead as Lidor Nakshari found the top corner with a fierce drive from outside the area which gave Gianniotis no chance.

In the 37th minute Awaka grabbed his second and Katamon’s third as he dispossessed Avi Rikan on the edge of the area and with only Gianniotis to beat sent his shot into the Greek keeper’s bottom corner.

On the brink of halftime Schahar Piven limped off after a collision with Awaka. Eleven fresh players came out for the second half, as four minutes after the restart, Ofir Davidzada was fouled inside the area allowing Ruslan Barsky to cut the deficit with a successful right-foot spot kick.

On 59 Eden Kartzev forced Adeleye to dive to his right and save a low powerful drive. Five minutes later, the Nigerian keeper pulled a stunning last gasp save to deny Bar Cohen after Eduardo Guerrero and Dor Turgeman combined well to carve Katamon’s defense open.

In the 67th minute however, Adeleye could do nothing to keep out Ido Schahar’s right foot shot which went in off the post to make it 3-3. Maccabi’s keeper Omer Katz kept Maccabi in the game as he denied Ahmed Ibrahim who ran clear through. Gal Leibovic’s full time whistle ended the first friendly match of pre-season in a 3-3 draw. 

Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen said at the end of the game: “We worked during the first week of pre-season on different things I would like to see. In the first half, it was a bit of searching for the opportunities were there. It was a more difficult as we had some the experienced players who were used to something else as we tried to add something to what they had done in previous seasons. I want to give them something that adds to their footballing development. In the second half we had younger players who are a little more familiar with the things that I have been doing in recent years. So it looked a little bit better. Fatigue is also a factor in a pre-season training camp, especially if you train in the morning and play in the evenining. It doesn’t always help but it does help the players to think about simple solutions and that has worked well in the second half”.

Ruslan Barsky, whose penalty began Maccabi’s second half comeback, added: “From the first training session we are working hard and the team is getting into good shape. Today was our first match, every player got 45 minutes and for the moment we are not bothered about the result or the goals, who scored and who didn’t. We are trying to build something which will help us run forward and reach our targets – this is what is important right now”.