Category: News

Arie: “We will continue on our path”

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Maccabi “Shachar” recorded a critical victory and collected three crucial points to pull within only one point of table leaders Maccabi Haifa. Oliel Peretz scored the match’s lone goal in the 42nd minute helping Ziv’s club to the win as both he and central defender Ran Vaturi commented on the game.

שער הניצחון של אליאל פרץ

“We aren’t counting wins. There was a point early on in the season where we were playing in the Champions League and we had a run of five matches where we didn’t win, so I’m not counting now. We have a very short squad and sent three players to train with the First Team which of course I’m thrilled about, but we also have had a number of injuries and players called up for National Team duty. The guys come and work hard each and every practice.

About the match itself:

“Our defense was a bit soft and allowed Netanya a number of good opportunities but luckily for us Haviv Ohayon saved us time and time again. We scored a great goal today as well and talked about how we can improve in the second half. We controlled the tempo and tried as best as possible to prevent them from getting chances during the final 45 minutes.”

On the team’s goals:

“I talk to the players about three things. Helping the players improve which we are doing very well, the State Cup which is an important goal for us as well as staying at the top of the table. I didn’t cry when we were 7-points off the top of the table and I’m not jumping up and down now that we are only one point from Maccabi Haifa. The Greens have more talented and experienced attackers than we have, and we don’t dwell on the results every week. We will continue on our path and with our way.

Ran Vaturi the Maccabi “Shachar” central defender discussed the team’s improvement every week:

“We work very hard during the training sessions and I’m happy to see that things are coming together. We always think about defense first. As the season has continued along, so have we and we are still a young side and have to all chip in on the defensive side including the strikers.

The battle for first place:

“Of course it’s great that we are only one point away from Haifa, but we are taking it game by game. A streak this way or that way really doesn’t concern us. At the end of the day, we all know the importance for the youth team to take titles, but the main goal is to have players advance and improve and I believe”

Igiebor: “We want to continue to win”

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Nosa Igiebor, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Nigerian midfielder was happy to pick up three points on Matchday 24 of the WINNER League after defeating Hapoel Haifa 2:1 at Bloomfield Stadium. Number 40 talked about the battle for first place with Hapoel Beer Sheva and Saturday’s victory:

בוס ואיגיבור לאחר הניצחון על הפועל חיפה

About a tough first half:

“You’re right the first half wasn’t easy. We played against a team that came here to try and score a point today. In the second half we knew what we wanted, we tried to do it and we did.”

Motivation of the team:

“We couldn’t find the right rhythm. In the second half the coach gave us some instructions as to what to do and we found what we needed in the second half.”

Playing before Hapoel Beer Sheva:

“It’s good we played before them, but tomorrow the gap could be back to five points. We want to continue to win and if we win all of our games that’s fine with us.”

 Pressure for both teams:

 “When you are used to winning you just want to win. We may be under a bit of pressure because we are used to being at the top and that’s where we want to be. They are also under pressure, it’s 50-50 but I think we can handle the pressure.”

Maccabi Shachar defeats Netanya 1-0

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The Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-19 club visited the Maccabi Netanya training facility on AQ7A1908Matchday 18 of the Toto Youth League. Entering the match with a three game winning streak, Ziv Arie’s team had been playing terrific football of late as the coach made one change to last week’s starting lineup inserting Eden Kartzev in place of Omri Harami who had been in basic training for the majority of the week.

As the teams walked onto the pitch, the Yellow-and-Blue found themselves four points from the top of the table and leaders Maccabi Haifa. The hosts had the first chance of the day as a left side cross met the head of the Netanya striker but Haviv Ohayon was in place to knock the ball away. Immediately following the Netanya opportunity it was time for Maccabi to have a pair of chances but Gaby Kanichowsky and Eden Kartzev both couldn’t find the back of the goal.

In the 22nd minute Almog Eylon was fouled right outside of the box but his 17-meter free AQ7A1908kick went wide of the goal. As the match hit the 30th tick of the clock, Ohayon kept his clean sheet intact as the young keeper made two fantastic saves to keep the game goalless.

However, that would change in the 42nd minute as the match hit the turning point with a beautiful goal by Oliel Peretz. Amit Shapira began the attack sending the ball to Almog who chipped it to Peretz who raced up the middle of the pitch and nutmegged the Netanya keeper giving the Yellow-and-Blue the lead as the sides headed into the break.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half saw Idan Yogev and Ran Vaturi pick up yellow cards and coach Ziv make a pair of substitutions bringing in Omri Haramati and Or Dasa in place of Shay Golan and Eden Kartzev. Almog then had a chance to double AQ7A1991the Maccabi “Shachar” lead as he took a deep pass and made it through the defense but couldn’t find a way to put the ball past the keeper. Mahmoud Awesat was then brought into the match for Almog to try and find the elusive insurance marker.

Haviv Ohayon made sure to keep his side in the lead though, making another tremendous save with a quarter hour remaining in the contest. Haramati had an opportunity to add to the lead as he took a fabulous ball from Peretz but was also unable to beat the Netanya shot stopper as the match ended in a 1:0 win for Maccabi.

The victory moved the Yellow-and-Blue to within one point of first place Maccabi Haifa as the Greens fell to Hapoel Beer Sheva potentially setting up a massive game between the teams in just two weeks.

Maccabi takes down Haifa 2-1

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A pair of second half goals helped Maccabi pull within two points of table leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva as the Yellow-and-Blue defeated Hapoel Haifa 2:1. Captain Eran Zahavi scored a penalty while Tal Ben Chaim wrapped up the three points with a brilliant goal from an Orlando Sa pass in the 80th minute leading the hosts to the win.

Head Coach Peter Bosz made only one change to the starting XI that defeated Maccabi Netanya 3:1 last week as Omri Ben Harush returned to the lineup after serving a one game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Joining Ben Harush in front of keeper Predrag Rajikovic was Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi and Carlos Garcia. The midfield featured Gal Alberman, Nosa Igiebor and Haris Medunjanin while an attacking trio of Dor Micha, Eden Ben Basat and Captain Eran Zahavi played up front.332A5048

After  close to 38 minutes of ho-hum football with neither side taking the bull by the horns and creating scoring chances Medunjanin finally fired the opening shot in the 38th minute. The Bosnian’s 25 meter scorcher was saved at the last moment by recently acquired Haifa keeper Marian Antolovich as the Yellow-and-Blue picked up the pace.

 Four minutes later Medunjanin’s free kick from the right side was swatted away again by the opposing keeper directly to Zahavi’s feet but his effort went over the bar. Maccabi would have one more chance to go into the break with a lead however, Garcia’s header was off the mark as the two sides went into the half goalless.332A5192

The Yellow-and-Blue continued to look for their first goal of the match and in the 47th minute they almost found it when a Ben Harush 17-meter effort from the left side of the box just whistled by the right post. As the clock hit the 59th minute, Ben Basat’s half bicycle kick attempt went over the bar prompting coach Bosz to make all three of his substitutions over the next few minutes. Winger Tal Ben Chaim, Orlando Sa and Avi Rikan were all introduced to jump start the offense in place of Ben Basat, a limping Ben Harush and Alberman.

As they say, the changes were just what the doctor ordered. Zahavi was tripped up in the box by Tadas Kianskas sending the Maccabi captain to the penalty spot where he promptly beat Antolovich to give the hosts a 1:0 lead in the 71st minute. Sensing a second goal was in the air, Igiebor’s effort and Ben Chaim’s chances were brilliantly saved by Antolovich, while Medunjanin’s corner was also batted away by the Haifa shot stopper.332A5298

But Antolovich wouldn’t be able to stop a great combo play by two of the substitutes in the 80th minute. Ben Chaim took a perfect pass from Sa on the left side as the winger beat the Haifa keeper with his right foot from a very sharp angle to double the Yellow-and-Blue lead. Zarko Korac brought Haifa to within one in the 89th minute but it was too little, too late as Maccabi wrapped up the victory to pull within a pair of points of Hapoel Beer Sheva at the top of the table.

Igiebor: “Nothing is over”

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Fans, we have a difficult game ahead of us on Saturday. Hapoel Haifa is a good team. Everyone thinks that we’ll be able to defeat them easily, but many of you don’t understand that these teams have been coming into these matches very prepared this year and they want to take points from us. However, at the end of the day we will battle to take all three points.

איגיבור

This week we are playing before Hapoel Beer Sheva does. I believe that there is great importance to the way the schedule is. Up until now, we were under a bit of pressure especially when we have been playing when the gap has been 8-points. I think that it’s very good that this week we are playing before Beer Sheva and it’s time for us to put them under pressure and close the gap to just  two points.

The message I want to convey to you is this: Nothing is over. There are some that are saying that five points is a lot and that Beer Sheva is playing well. But we the players don’t see it that way. On behalf of myself and the rest of the team we want to make it crystal clear that nothing is over.

Personally, I can tell you that I have not had an easy season. My goal has been to stay fit, to assist and score goals but mainly to make sure that we come into the last part of the year with a lot of energy and I believe that’s exactly how the team feels. I look forward to seeing all of you at Bloomfield. The weather has changed and it’s been nicer outside and we’ll have good tempo on Saturday.

Youth Department Action, Saturday February 20

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Maccabi “Shlomi” Netanya – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 12:30, Netanya

The Under-19 side plays away at Netanya in an important contest this Saturday with one goal in mind: to continue their winning streak that currently stands at three games after defeating Bnei Sakhnin, SC Ashdod and Bnei Yehuda. The point differential between first and second place where Maccabi finds themselves, stands at four.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – SC Julis 12:15, Kiryat Shalom

Maccabi “Oded” hosts SC Julis this Saturday at Kiryat Shalom as the Under-17 team will try to get back onto the winning track after falling to Kiryat Shemona last week.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda 10:20, Kiryat Shalom

Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer’s charges will kick off against Bnei Yehuda in the Mini-Derby at Kiryat Shalom. The Under-16 club is neck and neck with SC Ashdod atop of the table with the young Yellow-and-Blue holding a light advantage due to better goal differential.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Ramat Gan 08:30, Kiryat Shalom

Maccabi “Eldad” leads their league by eight points and this Saturday they will host Ramat Gan hoping to continue their good form and maintain their advantage.

Maccabi “Team 2 Tel Aviv – Hapoel “Nir” Ramat HaSharon 10:20, Kiryat Shalom

After a fabulous victory last Matchday against Hapoel Haifa, the Under-15 side will host Ramat HaSharon at Kiryat Shalom and try to collect three points to cut the point differential atop of the table.

Bosz: “The pressure will be there”

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Peter Bosz, the Yellow-and-Blue’s head coach spoke to the assembled media prior to his side’s clash against Hapoel Haifa on Matchday 24. As Maccabi heads into the home stretch of the second round of the WINNER League, Bosz discussed the style of play that is becoming more familiar to the players, Haifa and the point differential between Maccabi and Beer Sheva:

בוס ובן בסט לקראת המשחק מול הפועל חיפה

“Last time I said it wasn’t a disadvantage if they play before us so I can’t say it here. When the season gets closer to the end the pressure increases. Beer Sheva has been winning by slim margins and haven’t won by 3 or 4 goals and the haven’t had the experience in the stretch run. The pressure will be there.”

Style of play:

“I see that the way we want to play is getting clearer and clearer. We talk to the players every day and it’s getting better and it will continue to get better. We haven’t been able to play over 90 minutes the way that I’d like to see the club play, but there are good amounts of time when we do. When we lose the ball we are going after it quickly to get it back.”

About  Hapoel Haifa:

“I always watch the last couple of games our opponents have played but they have a new coach and you don’t always know what he will do as he will have new ideas.”

The status of defender Tal Ben Haim and striker Orlando Sa:

“They are getting fitter and fitter, Tal trained the last couple of days with the physiotherapists and Orlando trained with the team last week. We will have to see after the training session today how they are doing.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s striker spoke to the press in anticipation of the club’s upcoming home game against Hapoel Haifa: “I’m happy to be a part of this club”

Eden Ben Basat, the Yellow-and-Blue’s striker is getting geared up for the Matchday 24 contest at Bloomfield Stadium against Hapoel Haifa on Saturday at 17:45. The team will AQ7A1503be looking to win its second league match in a row and third overall while having gone undefeated for two months. Ben Basat discussed his time with Maccabi as well as when he played with Hapoel Haifa:

“This club has given me a lot as well and it’s also great that I’ve received a lot of love from Haifa but I’ll have to put the sentiments aside. Haifa is a team that gave me so much, but right now I’m a player with Maccabi Tel Aviv.”

On consistently playing

“Of course I want to play as much as possible and my place is on the pitch. I don’t want to look back at what was and the former coach is now somewhere else. Coach Bosz has his own thoughts and style of play and I’m happy to be a part of the club.”

Playing for Maccabi after a period of time in Europe:

“I was happy from the first day I signed here, but even though it hasn’t been easy, I’m continuing to find my place with the club little by little.”

Being a part of the squad:

“There were few teams that were interested in me but it was all pure speculation and I’m here to play and work for my spot on the squad. There are a lot of good players here and it’s our job to give the coach a headache as to who will play.”

Dress up like the stars

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Purim is coming up and now you can dress up your children like one of the Maccabi stars. The costume includes: jersey, shorts, socks, captain’s armband and a player’s mask of your choice (Eran Zahavi, Barak Itzhaki, Gal Alberman, Tal Ben Chaim, Dor Micha) All this for only 199 NIS!

You can purchase the costumes through the Online Shop or one of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Official Team Stores: Cinema City Rishon Le’Zion, 147 Dizengoff Street Tel Aviv or the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility.

Then we said, “Why stop here” and we came up with something extra:

Beginning February 24th you’ll also be able to find all of the costumes, official match jerseys, children and baby clothing, scarves, balls and much, much more at the New Pop-Up Shops:

Ayalon Shopping Center (Ground floor, by the Aviv entrance next to Super Pharm)

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 09:30-22:00, Friday 09:30-15:00, Saturday night one hour after Shabbat ends until 23:00

G Shopping Center Kfar Saba (Ground Floor, near Renuar)

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 09:00-22:00, Friday 09:00-15:00, Saturday night one hour after Shabbat ends until 23:00

Is this enough for you? It’s definitely not for us. We have one more surprise for you before we’re done, just before you run to one of the great locations:

On February 25th you can meet Gal Alberman and Barak Itzhaki at the Official Team Store at Cinema City Rishon Le’Zion.

Can’t make it to the Cinema City Store next Thursday? Don’t worry because on March 3rd Tal Ben Chaim and Dor Micha will be at the Pop-Up Shop at the Ayalon Shopping Center.

Don’t say you didn’t know!

Happy Holidays and Chag Sameach!

Maccabi Shachar picks up 1-0 win

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After beginning the second round of the Toto League campaign on the right foot, Maccabi “Shachar” looked to avenge a first round loss against Bnei Sakhnin, this time under the watchful eyes of First Team Head Coach Peter Bosz and his assistant Hendrie Kruzen.

The first fifteen minutes of the match saw both sides checking each other out with neither team taking the bull by the horns early on. In the 16th minute Eylon Almog looked to have scored the game’s first goal on a gorgeous header, but it was ruled to be offside keeping the contest goalless. Two minutes later, Sakhnin had a chance to take the lead but Haviv Ohayon was in the right place to keep the ball out of the Maccabi goal.

Gaby Kanichowsky and Almog each had a quality chance just a few minutes later, with the former taking a deep pass from Omri Haramti and shooting the ball right into the opposing keeper’s hands while the latter’s one-on-one opportunity went wide of the goal. As the match began to settle down, the two teams went into the break knotted up at 0:0.

Maccabi “Shachar” came out for the second half like a house on fire as Haramati’s header went off the post and out. Finally in the 51st minute, the hosts would see their efforts pay dividends. Amit Rosenboim’s free kick went off of the post and right to Amit Shapira who chipped the ball over the keeper and the opposing players giving the Yellow-and-Blue a 1:0 lead. Following the goal, Head Coach Ziv Arie introduced Eden Kartzev in place of Shay Golan and four minutes later brought on Mahmoud Awesat for Almog.

The match remained close right to the final clicks of the clocks with efforts by Awesat and Kartzev not finding the back of the Sakhnin goal. In the 88th minute the visitors had a chance to draw even after the referee whistled for a penalty after a handball in the box. However, the Sakhnin keeper stepped up to take the spot kick and hit the bar as Ohayon controlled the ball and helped his side earn the valuable three points.