Category: News

In pictures: Maccabi back in full contact training

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The TASE Premier League is set to return to action at the end of the month and today (Sunday) preparations have taken a major step forward as for the first time since returning to training, and in line with Health Ministry guidelines, Maccabi’s players held a full training session unlimited in time at the PenguinPickUp facility at Kiryat Shalom.

As part of the plan to return to action, today is also the first day when all the players must maintain self-isolation and they can only leave their homes to train and for matches.

When play resumes, Maccabi’s first clash will be a home fixture in the first round of the upper playoffs against Hapoel Haifa, subsequent will be another home clash, against second-placed Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi youth focusing on mental strength

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy is still adhering to lockdown restrictions and activities are yet to return to some kind of normality, which means that the players must train at home. We spoke to the department’s mental coach, Merav Levy, who gave us a few tips how to maintain a good outlook and a good state of mind ahead of the much-hoped-for return to a state of normality.

“It’s important to manage our energy levels and our mood, to stay positive and stay connected to ourselves in actions, enthusiasm and daring, to confront what is in front of us and be prepared to be flexible.

“Uncertainty during the current time, and the thought that matters are not necessarily under our control is a regular situation for footballers so it’s important to develop mental toughness to be able to get over this uncertain period. Mental strength is a set of tools that allow players to utilise their skills at the best of their abilities despite the challenges. It’s what is required for matches and it is particularly useful during the current coronavirus period.

“The ability to identify opportunities to develop when we understand that these are uncertain times is how we can develop players’ mental strength so that they can make the most of the restricting conditions.

“One example was shown by a Spanish athlete, who covered a distance of 61km in his four-metre-long living room by running for 10 hours. Anything is possible with imagination, thought, determination, positive energy and a will to work.

“Mental strength is not acquired at home in front of a computer, it can only be achieved outdoors, on the pitch in training with a specific target in mind. Those abilities need to be honed constantly and cannot be allowed to lapse so we need to be ready for the future now and that means players must be ready to return to action after having had the best preparation possible. We cannot wait for the current situation to pass in order to advance our skills.

“Players must maximise their ability to control a situation. We don’t know when things will return to normal but we do know that in the meantime we can create a new regimen and a new plan that will include all the important aspects for a player to develop. Only when a player feels in control and has confidence, can he be proactive and become effective. This crisis will pass, but our mental strength and our attitude must remain in focus and this is a good time to develop new tools, skills and habits.

“Each player has been asked to write down daily targets and create a routine for regular work, shed negative thoughts and concentrate on training targets to help them improve in all aspects.

“They must train to the best of their abilities to get the feeling that they have worked effectively and have succeeded in fulfilling their set tasks.

“A successful session will give players a feeling of optimism and success that the crisis will pass and that they have been able to maintain their best level of physical and mental fitness.” 

Barsky: We are working hard to be ready for action

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With news coming through about the restart of TASE Premier League action at the end of the month, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s players are beginning to refocus their aim on the challenge that lies ahead, with the playoff phase awaiting. We spoke to midfielder Ruslan Barsky who told us how he and his teammates are feeling right now.

“We are very happy. We have all desperately missed playing and we have been waiting for this moment. It’s important for us to be ready and do things correctly. After word went around that we might be awarded the league title, rather than have to win it by finishing the job we started, we will have to fight to keep the title in Tel Aviv,” Barsky said.

How will you cope with the many special restrictions that will be imposed in the coming period?

“It’s understandable and we will have to act responsibly, because everybody’s health is paramount, but that should not interfere with our ability to play football. Of course, playing without the large and adoring crowd, who are a major force, will be strange and we would prefer that the game was back for us and for the fans too, but we will have to play under the restrictions and we will have to win the remaining games.”

What do you think of the strange period you have faced?

“This was indeed a very unusual time for us all. It was difficult but it is hard to sum up this time in only a few words. It was an incomprehensible and disarming time for the country and for the whole world, and of course, for football and the world of business but I am sure that we will all emerge stronger and we will do so quickly.

What do you most look forward to as you get back to competitive play?

“First of all, the frenzy of the action and the feeling of excitement of playing. To provide a great telling pass, or a thrilling sliding tackle that will spur the entire team to enjoy the games.”

What will it be like to play in June?

“That is something that will be most unusual. We have never played in June, but I actually don’t think it will make much difference, because ultimately, this is our profession and we want to be as successful as we can be and win all our matches. We want to rekindle the momentum that we gained at the start of the season and win the title again, no matter in which month it happens.”

Are you managing to make the mental adjustments to be able to focus on winning another league title?

“From the moment we got back into training, we had a good feeling that we would also be back playing and that the league would not be abandoned. All the players returned to train hard and concentrated on being prepared for the first game, but we all realise that nothing is sealed and that we will have a tough fight on our hands if we want to retain the title.”

Maccabi returns: top flight returns to action

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Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club would like to thank the Israel Professional Football League and its’ Chairman, Erez Halfon, as well as the various State Authorities for all their efforts and hard work leading to the return of Israeli football.

We have a long and difficult road ahead with many challenges and we look forward to the continued cooperation of all parties concerned in order to find a suitable way forward taking into account the challenges we are all facing.

We look forward to the day when all fans can safely return to the stadiums of the team they support and we can experience once again the conditions in which football was meant to be played. In the meantime we are taking the first step towards this target.

Hi, it’s Sheran Yeini: A surprise call from Maccabi

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and the entire club have been on the front lines during the coronavirus crisis. It enlisted to deliver help to the community as medical teams worked in hospitals, with needy families, special needs children and with the elderly, who have suffered during a lengthy period of isolation.

As part of our work to support the elderly, last week, the club’s players and staff picked up the phone to call some 400 veteran Maccabi supporters to raise their spirits.

We were thrilled to feel the warmth and the longing for a return to Bloomfield and to hear tales of from years past of supporting Maccabi. Watch the clip