Maccabi Tel Aviv will continue their quest to defend their State Cup title in the Round of 16 when they take on Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion at Haberfeld Stadium on Thursday January 28th at 21:00. Maccabi supporters will be seated in section 4 and 5. Tickets may be purchased through the Leaan Ticket Agency, 101 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv, by telephone *8780 or via the Leaan website.

Advanced ticket sales for season ticket holders ONLY begins today until Thursday at 12:00. (Tickets may be collected on presenting your 2015/16 season ticket).

IMPORTANT:

Every season ticket holder may purchase up to 2 tickets ONLY!

Ticket sales will open to the general public should tickets remain following the advanced sale.

Home ticket printing is not available for this match.

To purchase via the Leaan website, click here

Ticket prices:

Ticket price via telephone/Internet: 60₪

Ticket price at the Leaan Ticket Office: 55 ₪

Ticket price at the stadium on the day of the match (should tickets remain): 50₪

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

On Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

Shlomi Azulay scored his second goal of the season against Hapoel Acre in the northern coastal city last evening and was happy to pick up the win on Matchday 19 of the WINNER League. The Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder spoke about his goal, focusing on the upcoming opponents, the coach’s style of play and the overall importance of last night’s victory:

“It wasn’t an easy match and even though they got a red card early they still fought very hard. I’m happy that we won today and it’s an important victory going forward. It was very hard to play through the weather but we did what we needed to do and now our focus is on Petach Tikva.”

On his goal:

“I kicked it from far out and I’m happy that I scored, but it’s not important who scores but that we win the games whether I score a goal or not. The most important thing is that we won.”

About the upcoming match:

“We have to look at ourselves and work on our game. That’s what Maccabi Tel Aviv has been doing these past few years. We will continue to focus on our play and go into every game like it’s the most crucial match of the year. Maccabi Petach Tikva is next and we will do what we need to do to win.”

Looking ahead:

“We have a number of difficult and important matches coming up against quality sides that are in the upper playoff picture. I’m sure we will come prepared as always to these games.”

Style of the new coach, Peter Bosz:

“We have a new direction with the new coach. He is looking for us to press the ball more, with the help of the defenders and both attacking and defensive midfielders and take shots from further out. I’m happy that we are playing this way and we’ll continue to do exactly these same things.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv will say goodbye today, Tuesday to one of the most iconic figures that ever was associated with the club, Shimon Kork, who passed away last night at the age of 72. Kork began working at Kiryat Shalom in 1988 and served as the club’s CEO for 14 years.

There were many achievements during Kork’s time with the club, including three League Championships, two Doubles along with two Israel State Cups. But above all, those at Maccabi remember that while he may have been tough he was a very sensitive individual who led the club to its golden age during the 1990’s.

Today, there will be many people who will say their final goodbyes to the fatherly figure and some have decided to share their thoughts and memories with us:

Goalkeeping coach, Shura Uvarov spoke about his first few days at Kiryat Shalom and getting to know Kork:

“Shimon was the first person to meet me and I’ll always remember the help he gave me during the first few days that I was in Israel, which were not easy at all. He was always with me and didn’t leave me. If something happened at home or if I needed something, Shimon was there. He was so important at Maccabi Tel Aviv and he was the strong man steering the club. The players just loved him and was the one who really put a stamp on the club’s turnaround at the start of the 1990’s. He played a major part in the club’s achievements, accomplishments, championships and cups. He brought the word discipline with him in all aspects. We all were afraid of him but also respected him. He always told the players and anyone connected with the club the truth and didn’t talk about someone behind their backs which wasn’t always the easiest thing to do but we all respected him for that. My daughter, who knew Shimon very well heard about his passing and called me right after the match. This is a very sad day for the club and for Israeli football.”

Amir Turgeman was a young striker that came up from the youth department in 1989 and won’t forget his debut season with the First Team and meeting Kork:

“I was just 17-years old when I was called up to Maccabi’s First Team and Shimon was the first person to welcome me to the team. I was afraid of him right from the get go, from my first meeting with him to the things that I had heard from others. He was very serious and seemed very tough. But the more I got to know Shimon the more I got to see his other side. I remember a story that happened at the end of my first year with the big club.

There was a match against Maccabi Haifa at Ramat Gan that I was promised I would be a part of. The youth club was also slated to play that same Saturday in a crucial match as they were fighting against relegation. On Thursday, Shimon told me that I wouldn’t play with the First Team but with the youth side and I had a hard time trying to hide my disappointment. He saw this and told me just play with the youth team and everything will be alright.

I played with the youth team and we stayed up. The First Team lost 4:1 to Haifa. Between the two matches, Shimon took me to a fish restaurant in Jaffa for lunch and spoke to me about everything under the sun. This put everything into perspective and I began to see that despite his tough outward personality, that he was a very caring and sensitive person, making him into the iconic figure that he was.”

Lira Strauber made his way to Kiryat Shalom in the 1990’s. He’ll never forget the night he received a telephone call from Kork and posted this story on his Facebook Page:

“16 year ago when I was 25 years old, I received a phone call one night during the break. On the other end of the line was this gruff and authoritative voice that said, ‘I hear that you really want to play with Maccabi Tel Aviv?’ I persuaded Avram Grant to take you on a two year contract.You have to make a decision by tomorrow if you’re interested two come here and play second choice keeper to Shura Uvarov.” He ended the conversation light heartedly and said jokingly, ‘Shura is an old man and I don’t know how much energy he has left to play this coming season. Think about it tonight and if you want to join us go to Beilinson Hospital (Emanuel Ofir Z”l was hospitalized there) and meet me at the hospital’s coffee shop.’

The next day I was supposed to meet and sign a 5-year contract with Ironi Ashdod. The rest as they say is history.

That was my first meeting with this amazing person, the man and the legend, the man who was so charming that no one could ever say the word “no” to him. The man whose word was more binding than any contract and the person who cared for all those who wore the Yellow-and-Blue and then Orange during his last years with Bnei Yehuda.”

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club family bows it’s head in memory of Shimon Kork who was the first team manager during the 1990’s and who also managed the youth department for many years.

Kork joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1988 and became a central part of the team’s golden age during the 1990’s. The club won three championships and two cups along with capturing the Double under coach Dror Kashtan in 1995/96. Kork departed the club during the 2001/02 season and joined the Bnei Yehuda youth department.

Nosa Igiebor picked up his second league goal of the season off of a gorgeous Barak Itzhaki pass to help the Yellow-and-Blue defeat 10-man Acre in the northern coast city. The Nigerian talked about the new coach’s style of play, his status with the club, his goal and the difficult weather situation:

“With this type of weather it’s very difficult to play and when the pitch is dry it’s hard to pass the ball. It’s tough in the wind with the ball flying all over the place.”

Coach Peter Bosz’s motivation:

“We take every game very seriously and it doesn’t matter what team we are playing. The coach really motivated us but the pitch was tough to play on.”

Difference in styles:

“It’s a bit different with this coach as he wants us to play behind the line. He doesn’t want the midfielders to go get the ball. This way we are playing closer to the goal. I think it’s better.”

His status with the club:

“I’m a Maccabi player, I have a contact and I’m staying with the club.”

On getting a magnificent pass from Barak Itzhaki:

“It’s amazing, Barak for me is a player that I look up to and is a fantastic player and very clever. As soon as the ball went to him I made my run and I knew I’d get to it and score.”

Dutchman Peter Bosz spoke to the assembled media following his side’s 3:0 victory over Hapoel Acre and talked about Israeli football, working with players and the difficulties the team had in the first half:

“We can do better. The tempo in the first half was too low and we didn’t create enough chances. It wasn’t easy to play in the wind and it wasn’t easy for the players. Tonight even with an extra player it took us time to readjust in the second half and open up the play.”

About  Israeli football:

“I’ve only been in Israel for a couple of weeks and I’ve been watching as much football as possible. I was in Petach Tikva for the Hapoel Beer Sheva match on Saturday. It’s too soon for me to make judgement about the league.”

Working with the players:

“Once you work with the players you get a better picture of what the players can do. It’s important for other players to score as well and I’m sure Eran will get a goal in the next game.”

Status of Carlos Garcia:

“I substituted him out as he got banged up by his eye socket. He will be fine, but when we took him off we went to three defenders in the back and introduced Barak Itzhaki.”