The coronavirus outbreak has forced the suspension of all sporting activity throughout the country and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s U16 team are affected just like everybody else, but they are doing their best to keep in shape with a home training programme devised by the Academy’s coaching staff.

Four of the boys have talked about how they view the situation in these unusual times.

Eliran Gomelsky, goalkeeper, 16, is a Manchester City fan and enjoys the way they play a high attacking game. Gomelsky follows German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and hopes that in 10 years’ time he will be playing in England after taking on the mantle of Maccabi’s first-choice man between the posts.

Adir Cordoba, full back, 16, enjoys playing with a ball on the beach and listening to music. He admires Bayern Munich’s style and says: “They do their best to crush the opposition in every game.” He admires Everton’s Yerry Mina and says he has “worked hard to get to where he is today.” Adir also hopes to be play for the national team and lead them to great achievements.

Roei Nawi, midfielder and captain, 16, is a fan of Luka Modric, whom he says is “always calm on the ball and contributes so much in defence and in attack.” He also admires coach Jurgen Klopp and hopes that in 10 years’ time he will captain the Maccabi first team and become a significant national team player.

Amit Tzur, forward, 15.5, likes all kinds of sports but says: “Thanks to football, I understand so many other types of sport and how to play in the best possible way.” He enjoys watching Brazil and feels he has been able to learn something from the play of the best wingers in the world. “I have observed their movement and style of play and try
to copy that in my actions.”

Gomelsky said that he greatly misses being able to play at the moment. “It’s something that I do every day, and I think about it all the time, so the feeling of being unable to play for a while is very strange and is not good.”

Cordoba also said that “It’s very sad. For me, football is not only a hobby or a game, it has become a way of life.”

The players are managing to keep active and Nawi said that he and his teammates were following the Youth Academy training programme at home.

Tzur, who plays up front, said that he feels he’s managed to improve from one session to
the next, not only in soccer but in discipline, quick thinking and teamwork.

Gomelsky said: ” I am learning to cope with pressure and how to confront situations when things are not going well when you know you have to soldier on. It strengthens me not only in play, but in my daily life.”

Cordoba talked of the additional early morning training sessions that the Academy has added recently and said: “I believe that these sessions are the most significant of the week because it is when we are most focused and when we can work on our individual
tasks and shortcomings.

Nawi said the players were lucky to receive preferential treatment which “allows each player to progress according to the needs defined by his position in the team lineup. He also said that having two coaches was a “huge advantage.

Tzur said the additional off-pitch activities such as video review and mental training were having a big influence in play too. “Physical training helps prevent injuries and increase our playing ability, but being able to review our performance after the event helps us realise how we might have performed and how to avoid difficult situations.”