“The girls’ academy is helping me improve”

The female programme at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth academy is continuing to pick up pace and with increased interest; some girls must be asking themselves whether it is a good idea to join. They might be persuaded by hearing from Avishag Ayas, a player in the 2006 age group about how the academy has helped her game improve.

How long have you been playing football?

This is the start of my tenth year.

How long have you been with Maccabi?

This is the third season. 

How does it feel to be a part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s girls’ academy?

I feel very proud. A feeling that I am part of a very well organised, proficient and gelled group. We work and train well together, support each other and there is lots of time for laughter too.

Do you feel that the academy is helping you professionally?

Yes, very much! The coaches are very professional and are of a high standard. During training we use many advanced and diverse methods and apparatuses and we also do lots of fitness training, which is a real help.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Of course, I want to be a footballer. My dream is to be a professional player and also play for the national team and have many successes. Beyond that, I see myself as joining the coaching staff.

Shechter: We are tested when we are under pressure

Maccabi striker Itai Shechter spoke to the media after the Toto Cup final defeat to Beitar Jerusalem in Netanya on Tuesday and said:

“It’s very disappointing to lose any trophy but Beitar were better than we were, it’s undeniable. This may be the least important of the season’s trophies but for us, Maccabi, all trophies and matches are super important.

“We conceded through a lapse in concentration and it’s undeniable that Beitar played better than we did. We weren’t sharp, weren’t hungry and didn’t threaten and when you play like that, the opponents take advantage. We have a few days to prepare now for a clash that is probably even more important and I believe that we will be well prepared when we face Beitar at Teddy Stadium on Saturday.

“If you surrender possession when there is no pressure on the ball, you lose confidence. It’s disappointing but you need to be able to accept such situations.

“I just hope that for the rest of my career, I’ll always be able to be in a position to win more titles. 

“It’s true that we are not playing as well as we did last season but as we accrue points, things will get better and we will gain confidence.

“We knew that our opponents want to make things more difficult for us this season and have prepared, so it’s no surprise. But this is when we are tested. Last season, things were too easy but it was a one-off. We are a very strong club and when things are less happy we regroup and improve.

“I have every confidence that a strong club like Maccabi will be much better.”

“We are disappointed but look forward to Saturday”

Following the 2-0 defeat to Beitar Jerusalem in the Toto Cup final, Maccabi’s players were clearly disappointed by failing to pick up their first silverware of the season. They went back to the dressing room and began to focus in the “rematch” with Beitar on Saturday, a  much-anticipated TASE Premier League fixture at Teddy Stadium.

‘We were very disappointed,” said midfielder Yonatan Cohen. “We really wanted to win this match and the trophy. We want to win every trophy. Conceding late in the match was very disappointing but it’s part of the game and we have to accept that fact.”

Cohen said he did not think that Beitar took control of proceedings in the second and it was a fairly even contest throughout.

“It’s no secret, however, that we are not showing our best form at the moment. Things are not flowing as they did last season.”

He also did not think that Maccabi are more vulnerable this season. “We have not conceded any goals (this season) to any Israeli club, and it’s time to look ahead to Saturday” Cohen concluded.

 

Late Beitar goals deny Maccabi another Toto Cup

Late goals by Beitar Jerusalem’s Anthony Varen and Uri Magbo denied Maccabi Tel Aviv a third consecutive Toto Cup on Tuesday after a lacklustre final played in Netanya.

The match appeared heading for a penalty shootout to decide the winners as neither side managed to find a way to break down their opponents’ defences, coupled with some wayward finishing. 

Maccabi looked the dominant side in the first half and had more possession as the game was played at a fast pace, but the pre-game favourites who had won the trophy for the past two seasons and were going for a record seventh win could not find a way to break the deadlock.

Beitar picked up the pace a bit more in the second half but they too did not managed to threaten their opponents’ goal until substitute Varen slipped in between a defender and Maccabi goalkeeper Daniel Tannenbaum and connected with a cross from the right by Levi Garcia to slot the ball cheekily into the back of the net in the 87th minute. 

Maccabi were now desperate to force an equaliser but still could not find a way through and left their back line exposed, allowing Magbo, also a substitute, to find his way into the box and crunch the ball home in the 93rd minute.

The result is certain to inject great interest into Saturday’s TASE Premier League fixture as Beitar host Maccabi at Teddy Stadium on Saturday night.

Three famous Toto Cup wins

Maccabi Tel Aviv will line up against Beitar Jerusalem in the Toto Cup final in Netanya on Tuesday at 20:15. It will be a third final in a row for the defending league champions and it will also be a dress rehearsal for Saturday’s league clash against the same opponents at Teddy Stadium on Saturday. Here’s a look at three recent finals.

2014-15 season – Maccabi Tel Aviv 2, Maccabi Haifa 1
The Toto Cup was the first trophy in Maccabi’s famous treble-winning season which saw two own goals and a re-taken penalty.

Youth Academy celebrates New Year

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth academy raised a toast to the approaching Jewish New Year in a celebration at the Kiryat Shalom training complex on Sunday, with club CEO Ben Mansford wishing the club’s guests and training staff happiness and success. Youth department head Guy Zuckerman also added his blessings before all present joined in the celebrations and tasted from the holiday’s special treats.

Saborit: The atmosphere at Bloomfield is amazing

Maccabi Tel Aviv registered a very important and morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa, one of the best sides in the TASE Premier League, in the first Israeli “Classico” of the season. The fixture returned to Bloomfield with 26,234 spectators watching a thrilling encounter. Over 40 percent of fans chose Enric Saborit as the “Factory 54” Man of the Match and one of those who named the defender will receive a NIS 500 voucher to purchase clothing from the Hugo Boss designer brand at the Factory 24 outlet.

Savorit spoke after the game: