Vidigal: “We want to win all of the remaining matches”

Lito Vidigal, the Yellow & Blue boss addressed the assembled media at Kiryat Shalom prior to his side’s Matchday 27 home encounter with Bnei Sakhnin in the first game of the Championship Playoffs:

“We always think the same way and what’s most important is the next game. We have a training session today as well as tomorrow and we will prepare for the game on Saturday.”

Watch Lito Vidigal’s Press Conference:

Objectives:

“We have one objective when we talk and work together which is to win the next match. Our objective since I came aboard was to win all of the remaining matches in the regular season and we did exactly that, so congratulations to the players. But we have to still work hard and continue on this way in the playoffs. We want to win all of the remaining matches.”

Eyal Golasa’s injury status:

“Golasa is still not ready but he is getting better. We work together as a team and it’s important that we have all of the players available. But we will do the best with what we have.”

Impressions about Beer Sheva after seeing them play in person this week:

“We are focusing on Bnei Sakhnin and not on Beer Sheva. I’m here to talk about the upcoming game. What’s most important for us is to win the game and to take the three points.”

The quality of the team’s play last match:

“What was most important is that we won the game. Some minutes we played very well and we have to take that further and continue winning and collecting points.”

Bottom line:

“We have to all focus on this game and win it, that’s what is most important right now.”

Five Maccabi representatives to feature for Israel Under-17’s

The Under-17 Israel National Team will play in the Elite Round of the European Championships and Head Coach Gady Brumer published the 18-man squad list today that includes five Yellow & Blue representatives. Keeper Daniel Peretz, defenders Alon Strosberg and Tomer Mahluf, midfielder Eden Kartzev and striker Tamir Glezer.

Israel will play in Group 2 along with the host Hungary, Norway and Russia. The National Teams that finish at the top of each group plus the 7 best second place finishers will advance to the European Championships that will take place this summer in Croatia.

The Regular Season in Pictures

Matchday 1: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:1 Hapoel Kfar Saba

Matchday 2: SC Ashdod 1:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 3: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:2 Beitar Jerusalem

Matchday 4: Hapoel Raanana 0:3 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 5: Maccabi Tel Aviv 5:0 Hapoel Tel Aviv

Matchday 6: Bnei Sakhnin 0:3 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 7: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:2 Maccabi Haifa

Matchday 8: Hapoel Beer Sheva 2:0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 9: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:0 Maccabi Petah Tikva

Matchday 10: Kiryat Shemona 1:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 11: Bnei Yehuda 1:0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 12: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:0 Hapoel Ashkelon

Matchday 13: Hapoel Haifa 2:4 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 14: Hapoel Kfar Saba 1:0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 15: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0 SC Ashdod

Matchday 16: Beitar Jerusalem 1:0 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 17: Maccabi Tel Aviv 4:1 Hapoel Raanana

Matchday 18: Hapoel Tel Aviv 0:1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 19: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:1 Bnei Sakhnin

Matchday 20: Maccabi Haifa 2:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 21: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0 Hapoel Beer Sheva

Matchday 22: Maccabi Petah Tikva 0:1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 23: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:0 Kiryat Shemona

Matchday 24: Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:0 Bnei Yehuda

Matchday 25: Hapoel Ashkelon 1:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Matchday 26: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0 Hapoel Haifa

Maccabi’s new acquisition: Pizza Prego signed a sponsorship deal with the Club

The Pizza Prego Chain officially signed a sponsorship contract with the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club worth a half a million shekels. The contract begins immediately and will last through next season with an option to renew for an additional season.

As part of the sponsorship contract, the company will publicized on the various Club platforms which includes advertisements in the Stadium, participate in commercial events and public relation activities with the Club’s players and will also be hosted at the Club’s matches. As part of the sponsorship contract, Pizza Prego will also offer special promotions to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans for the duration of the sponsorship.

Alon Sahar, CEO and co-owner of Pizza Prego said: “We’re very happy to be a part of the biggest Club in Israel. Connecting with Maccabi Tel Aviv is part of our expansion strategy and the continuing pursuit of excellence for the products that Pizza Prego offers.”

About Pizza Prego
Pizza Prego started out more than two decades ago and quickly earned a reputation due to their success thanks to their unbelievable pizza which is meticulously produced with quality dough, rich sauce (secret from the Italian kitchen) and 100% fine Mozzarella cheese. Due to its smashing success, additional branches were opened throughout Israel making it the leading pizza chain in the country.

The Prego Pizza chain is the market leader in the level of quality and service. The network of restaurants is managed with the highest skill and pays attention to the most minute detail. Along with it’s delicious pizzas, you can also enjoy a wide range of unique flavors from around the world that will please the Israeli palate.

Ticket Sales Bnei Sakhnin Home Playoff Match

Maccabi Tel Aviv opens up the 2016/17 Championship Playoffs with a home match against Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday March 18th at 18:15. Matchday 27 will take place at the Netanya Stadium and ticket sales are underway as Maccabi fans may purchase tickets in the following sections: Silver, E+, Lower & Upper West.

Tickets are on sale via the Leaan Ticket Agency located at 101 Dizengoff Street, on their Website and by phone *8780

Tickets may be printed at home

Discounted tickets (Youth/Soldier/Women) are available by phone or at the Leaan Ticket Agency Office with ID

Ticket Prices

Silver Section
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 400 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 405 NIS

E+
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 200 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 205 NIS

Upper & Lower West Stands Sections
Leaan Ticket Agency Office – 100 NIS
Telephone/Internet – 105 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Women – 50 NIS (not available via the website)

Ticket Collection

Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 101 Dizengoff Street between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.

Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

What have we had so far: The Regular Season in Numbers

26 Matchdays have gone by and the Ligat Ha’Al’s regular season is now history, but just before we get ready for the Championship Playoffs, let’s sum up what we’ve had so far. Here’s some interesting Yellow & Blue stats and facts up until now.

Maccabi’s League Record: 17 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses. Goal differential: 45:19

Maccabi received 58 yellow cards along with one red card (Winger Tal Ben Chaim, Matchday 14 against Kfar Saba)

82% was Maccabi’s success rate in the second round (32 of 39 points) compared to 61% in the first round

Maccabi kept a clean sheet in 7 of the 13 matches in the second round

The Club was featured 11 times as the Match of the Week on TV, more than any other team

28.3 – The average age of the Maccabi players this season (per minutes played). The highest average age ever for the Club

Goal Scoring Leader: Vidar Kjartansson – 15 goals

Assist Leader: Dor Micha – 8 assists

Maccabi had 2 comebacks:
Against Kiryat Shemona (Matchday 10): From a deficit to a 2:1 victory
Against Beitar Jerusalem (Matchday 3): From deficit to a lead, match ended in a 2:2 draw

26 players appeared for Maccabi on league play:
Predrag Rajikovic is the only player to have not missed single minute
Youngest Player: Eliel Peretz – 20 years old
Oldest Player: Yossi Benayoun – 36 years old and 10 months

Biggest win: 5:0 over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Derby – Matchday 5

Fastest goal: Oscar Scarione. 49 seconds against Ashdod on Matchday 2

Latest goal: Vidar Kjartansson. 93rd minute on Matchday 10 against Kiryat Shemona

Furthest goal: Gal Alberman, 21 meters. Matchday 13 against Hapoel Haifa

Maccabi’s matches by day:
Sunday – 13 matches
Monday – 5 matches
Wednesday- 2 matches
Saturday – 6 matches

Ticket Sales State Cup Semifinal

Maccabi will continue their State Cup journey when they face Beitar Jerusalem in the tournament’s Semifinal which will take on Wednesday April 5th at Sammy Ofer Stadium, 20:30. Ticket Sales will begin today, March 19th for the general public at 19:00.

Beginning at 19:00, tickets are on sale through the Leaan Ticket Agency Website by entering the USER ID,
Beginning on Monday (Should tickets remain) via telephone (*8780) or the Leaan Ticket Office 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:30-12:00.

The Club would like to clarify that the State Cup Semifinal is being managed by the Israel Football Association and they have determined the seating arrangement at the stadium

Please Note:
• Each Season Ticket may purchase one ticket only
• Tickets for the Gold and Silver Sections are available to Maccabi Tel Aviv 2016/17 Platinum and Silver Section Season Ticket Holders
• Discounted ticket holders will need to show proper documentation. Those who do not may be denied entry and will need to pay the difference of an Adult full price ticket
• Please purchase tickets for the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter sections. Should a Maccabi supporter hold tickets for another section, the Israel Football Association reserves the right to eject them from the stadium
• It is recommended to collect the tickets in advance or print them at home as their may be long lines at the ticket windows on Matchday
• Tickets may be collected by showing the season ticket card, credit card used to purchase and Teudat Zenit ID Card

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans will be sitting in sections – Category 1 (Reserved): 110-115, 213-219, 101-102, 201-203 and Category 2 (Unreserved) 103-109, 204-212, Gold Section (409,410) and Silver Section (309).

Ticket Prices
Ticket Office
Category 1 (Reserved)
Adult – 110 NIS
Child/Soldier/Student/Woman/Senior Citizen – 55 NIS
Category 2 (Unreserved)
Adult – 88 NIS
Child/Soldier/Student/Woman/Senior Citizen – 44 NIS
Silver Section – 165 NIS
Gold Section – 385 NIS (Including light refreshments & parking)

Telephone/Website
Category 1 (Reserved)
Adult – 115 NIS
Child/Soldier/Student/Woman/Senior Citizen – 60 NIS
Category 2 (Unreserved)
Adult – 93 NIS
Child/Soldier/Student/Woman/Senior Citizen – 49 NIS
Silver Section – 170 NIS
Gold Section – 390 NIS (Including light refreshments & parking)

Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office, 101 Dizengoff Street Tel Aviv Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30

Training Principles in Modern Football Course Underway

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Sports Science Department and the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports introduced a brand new course that got underway this past Friday dealing with Training Principles in Modern Football. The course, which will include 60 hours over 12 meetings, took place at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility. Lecturers will include Dr. Antonio Dello Iacono, Course Coordinator, the Youth Department’s Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen, Raymond Atteveld and other coaches from the department.

Patrick van Leeuwen and Dr. Iacono conducted the first lesson which was a smashing success due to the amount of registrants, in terms of interest and the positive feedback received by the organizers. The opening class was used to familiarize the participants with the content that will be covered throughout the 60 hours while van Leeuwen also touched on the Academy structure and training principles. Dello Iacono discussed football terminology and how to use Sports Science in the field today.

The second class will take place this coming Friday between 09:30-14:30. Raymond Atteveld and other coaches from the Youth Department will join van Leeuwen and Dr. Dello Iacono over the duration of the classes.

Getting Ready for the Cup: Official Jersey 129 NIS

The most exciting football tournament in Israel has entered the deciding stages of the competition and now’s your chance to cheer on Maccabi with all of your might! Did you purchase a ticket to the State Cup Semifinal against Beitar Jerusalem on April 5th, 20:30 at Sammy Ofer Stadium? Then you can take advantage of a great offer just for this special game.

Any fan that purchases a match ticket will be able to buy an Official 2016/17 Jersey for only 129 NIS. Your choice, Yellow, Blue or White – you decide.

How does it work?
Online Ticket Purchases
Within 24 hours from the start of ticket sales and right up to match day, any fan who purchases a ticket via the Leaan Website will receive an SMS with a special code that can be used at the Maccabi Tel Aviv Online Shop.

Official Store (Dizengoff & Cinema City) Ticket Purchases via a Leaan Representative
Along with your match ticket, you’ll receive a special coupon from the Leaan Representative that will enable you to purchase a ticket at the Official Store itself or at one of the Official Merchandise Stands.

Please note that the coupon is valid until match day, so make your purchase prior to the game itself.

You haven’t yet secured your seat at the State Cup Semifinal? CLICK HERE for ticket information