The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department held a special Open Day for goalkeepers at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility. Special training sessions for the club’s keepers were held this morning which was followed by a open training sessions for shot stoppers from across the country. Israel Ainy, the head of the Youth Academy’s Goalkeeper Department was in charge of the activities which included a special staff of coaches that helped keep the quality, professionalism and enjoyment of the day. In addition, Shura Uvarov, Shay Hess, Galil Ben Shenan and Eliad Graf were on hand to give out tips to the budding keepers.
Many keepers between the ages of 8-16 descended upon the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility as the professional staff split them up by age and skill level. Should a keeper have impressed the staff, the club will be in contact with them. This amazing day was a fantastic opportunity for youngsters from around the country to get a taste of the values of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Category: News
Historical Round: The numbers behind Maccabi’s terrific start
Maccabi closed out the round with 33 points out of a possible 39 for a 84% success rate.
How successful was this round? This was the second best all-time round of matches in Maccabi’s history. The best was back in 1994 when the Yellow & Blue collected 37 points for a 94.9 success rate.
This was also Maccabi’s best start to the campaign since the 1995/96 Double Season (the first round had 15 Matchdays). That season Maccabi won 11 contests, drew once and lost once in the first 13 matches.
For comparison purposes, Paulo Sousa’s 2012/13 Maccabi finished the first round with 32 points.
Vladimir Ivic’s squad also sports the best goal differential in the league – +24 (best since 95/96 +25), along with the most goals – 31 (the best was 34 goals in 95/96) and the least goals conceded – 7 (lowest since 93/94, 6).
If Hapoel Hadera doesn’t win this evening when they face Maccabi Netanya the gap between first and second place will be the largest ever after 13 Matchdays (11 points). Should Hadera win the gap will be 9 points.
The first round also saw Maccabi extend their league unbeaten streak to 19 matches which of course began last season.
13 Maccabi players scored in the first round:
Omer Atzili 5, Eliran Atar 13, Itay Shechter 4, Chico Ofoedu 3, Dor Peretz 3, Eyal Golasa 2, Yonatan Cohen 2, Avi Rikan 2, Eli Dasa 1, Enric Saborit 1, Sheran Yeini 1, Maor Kandil 1, Aron Schoenfeld 1.
Yonatan Cohen added his name to the list last night with his first two league goals.
Eli Dasa assisted on one of Cohen’s goals and tied Dor Micha with 5 assists for the team lead.
Omer Atzili didn’t score yesterday but was very active among the Maccabi players with 5 attempts towards the target. Yonatan Cohen had three attempts and scored twice.
Itay Shechter scored his 4th league goal and was the player who ran the fastest reaching 32.1kph.
Ruslan Barsky led Maccabi once again distance run with 12.2km. Dor Micha and Dor Peretz each ran 11.2km good for second place.
Cohen: “I grabbed the opportunity with both hands”
Yonatan Cohen was in the Starting XI and performed admirably with a brace in a 3:1 win over Bnei Yehuda. Following the match he spoke about the contest from his point of view:
Was this an easy win?
“I don’t think so. This wasn’t easy. We came into the match modestly with the purpose of doing what we needed to on the pitch and we I’m happy that we won.”
Playing after not having the opportunity in a while:
“It’s not easy but you have to be mentally strong. They kept we ready to go all the time. I’ve been training well and I waited for my chance. I’m happy that today I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.”
Not celebrating after the second goal:
“My heart leaped. But I respected Bnei Yehuda because I had played for them and they gave me so much.”
Ivic: “We are going in the right direction”
Maccabi Tel Aviv closed the first round of matches with a 3:1 win over Bnei Yehuda at the Moshava Stadium. Yellow & Blue Head Coach Vladimir Ivic summed up the contest:
“We prepared for this match and we played against an excellent team but we deserved the victory. We played well at the start of the game and in the second half. We played simple football and you can also get something out of that. We also had some minutes where we could have played better and that’s something we have to improve.”
About the situation in the league:
“We finished the first round and we are going in the right direction but not more than this. We have another 23 games and there are may points left. Nothing is over. We have to work hard and we have to begin preparing for the next match that is waiting for us.”
Playing with three central defenders:
“Today we changed our formation. We didn’t have a lot of time to work on this but I’m pleased with the players good work.”
Maccabi downs Bnei Yehuda 3:1
Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Bnei Yehuda 3:1 thanks to a brace by Yonatan Cohen as the striker scored a goal in each half to help the Yellow & Blue to the win and three points. Itay Shechter also scored in the first half while Shai Konstantin found the back of the goal for the host’s. Maccabi will visit Maccabi Haifa next Monday night for the Israeli Classico at Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shahar Piven, Captain Sheran Yeini, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha, Yonatan Cohen, Omer Atzili and Itay Shechter.
Available on the bench: Haviv Ohayon, Maor Kandil, Jair Amador, Avi Rikan, Chico Ofoedu, Eliran Atar, Aaron Schoenfeld.
First Half
Maccabi opened up the match in search of a quick goal and almost found it via Atzili but his 2’ long distance attempt missed the target while two minutes later Shechter sent Cohen a nice ball but his header came up empty. In the 9’ the Yellow & Blue came even closer when Barsky and Yeini teamed up to get the ball to Peretz but his opportunity went out.
Finally, Cohen hit the jackpot thanks to a Dasa cross as the striker put the ball into the Bnei Yehuda goal with his left foot to score his first league marker of the season in the 14’, 1:0 Maccabi. Just three minutes later Shechter doubled the Yellow & Blue lead as he took advantage of a poor back pass by Carlos Cuellar that couldn’t find the keeper and put it into an empty goal, 2:0 Maccabi.
Peretz was issued a yellow card in the 28’ while the host’s had their first chance of the evening when Shai Konstantin sent the ball to Mavis Tchibota but Rajkovic was up to the task. Dolev Haziza had a pair of chances in the 34’ and 38’ and both went over the bar. Rajkovic made a terrific instinctive save off a Tchibota chance from 6’ meters out in the 41’ as Maccabi took a 2:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Bnei Yehuda looked to cut into the lead in the 49’ but Yuval Ashkenazi’s shot was taken care of by a busy Rajkovic however, Konstantin beat the shot stopper thanks to a Matan Baltaxa pass in the 57’ to cut the Maccabi lead to 2:1.
Rain began falling in the 65’ on the 8,100 fans in attendance including 5,300 Maccabi supporters. But, that didn’t stop Cohen as he sent a scorcher from 19’ meters out to the top right hand corner of the goal off a Shechter assist to give the Yellow & Blue a 3:1 lead in the 70’. Immediately after the goal Cohen left to a standing ovation by fans from both clubs as Avi Rikan came on to replace him.
Ivic made a double substitution in the 83’ as he brought in Aron Schoenfeld and Eliran Atar in favor of Shechter and Atzili. Ismaila Soro’s 85’ attempt went over the goal while Atar’s chance hit the bar in the 90’ as Maccabi wrapped up a 3:1 victory.
Great Goals Against Bnei Yehuda
קליפ השערים לקראת בני יהודה
Danziger Foundation Scholarship ceremony
The Michael “Mopi” Danziger Foundation Scholarship ceremony took place at the offices of the Club’s Legal Advisor Moran Meiri. Owner’s Representative Jack Angelides and Club CEO Ben Mansford were on hand along with Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen, Youth Department Director Guy Zukerman, Legal Advisor Moran Meiri and Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Dan Glazer.
The foundation is named after Supreme Court judge Yoram Danziger’s father and provides outstanding handicapped athletes and players from the Maccabi youth department with scholarships to help them continue to develop their skills. Four athletes from the Ilan organization were received scholarships including, Maya Peri (swimmer, 13 years old), Nikita Prokofenko (swimmer, 15 years old), Roie Aloni (table tennis, 15 years old) and Amit Vidoga (basketball, 16 years old). In addition, four outstanding Maccabi Youth Academy players also received scholarships, Nir Levi (Under-15), Oral Bahia (Under-15), Ori Hassan and Nehoray Ben Zino.
Professor Yoram Danziger said: “As in the the past, the Foundation saw the importance to give scholarships equally to both those with physical challenges and those without. What unifies the youth is the battle that they all have on a daily basis to reach their ultimate potential and the highest of heights.”
Ben Mansford also spoke at the ceremony: “In the name of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club we want to recognize the Danziger Foundation and Professor Yoram Danzinger on the continuing support with this project. This support allows the young children the opportunity to excel in sport and reach for their dreams.”
Good start to State Cup for Youth Academy
Under-17: Maccabi “Oded Tel Aviv 4:0 SC Ironi Ashdod
After much success in league play, the Under-17 squad won their first State Cup match of the year defeating Ashdod thanks to goals by Or Roizman with a brace and lone markers by Tal Torgman and Itay Rada. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the win: “This wasn’t a simple draw for an early Cup round against one of the best team’s in the country. The goal was to advance to the next stage and that’s what we did. The staff is very pleased and feel that the players are continuing to improve.” Aharon also looked ahead to this weekend’s Derby: “In my mind this is just another league match that we need to win and we will go to Wolfson with that goal.”
Under-15: Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 13:3 Beitar Nahariya
Ori David’s squad advanced out of the first round with a goal fest against Nahariya. Ilay Tomer (3), Eliran Avisher (3), Ofek Nagar (2), Oral Bahia (2), Ben Gold, Oskar Gluch and Ido Nataf all scored for Maccabi. David commented: “This was a typical early round cup contest with a huge gap between teams in terms of quality and pace. I am happy that the players did their job as best as possible.”
Girls Team Round of 16: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:2 SC Kiryat Gat
The Club’s Girls team under the direction of Mor Shaked took anther step towards the title with a win over the southern side. Shaked summed up the contest: “We are making tremendous strides from match to match and the girls are really handling the tactical side of the game successfully. Now we can look ahead to the next match. There’s no question that we can compete with any team and that we can defeat them.”
The Girls Team are for those born between 2005-2007 and training sessions are also available for other ages as well. For more information or to join the team please contact Mor – 052-444-8103.
Maccabi Foundation celebrates Hanukah with Lone Soldiers
The Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation took advantage of the 5th night of Hanukah to hold a special holiday gathering with the lone soldiers as part of the club’s partnership with the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center.
Dozens of lone soldiers came to Beit Jabotinsky in Tel Aviv and enjoyed a festive meal thanks to club sponsor Pizza Prego as the candles were lit and everyone enjoyed a spirited evening.
The Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin was established by a group of former lone soldiers who were aware of the challenges and struggles faced by those lone soldiers serving in the IDF.
Foundation Goals for the upcoming season is to provide support for the lone soldiers while in the army through the Maccabi fans and sponsors and accompany the lone soldiers following their service through mentoring programs, academic studies and employment opportunities.
WATCH: Day 1 of the Big FIFA HISENSE & Maccabi Tournament
After a tremendous amount of anticipation the BIG HISENSE and Maccabi Tel Aviv FIFA Tournament is underway and last night 30 pairs competed at the LVL UP Bar in Tel Aviv for a place in the finals on December 9th. Among the pairs is Maccabi Tel Aviv’s duo of Or and Dor Eligula as they along with the other teams face off for a chance to win a HISENSE GAMING TV and a chance to play Omer Atzili and Maor Kandil.
