Category: News
Kanichowsky: “Playing in the Toto Cup gave me thirst for more”
This Saturday, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv faces it’s city rival Hapoel when they visit the Wolfson Training Center on Matchday 13 of the Toto Youth League. Ziv Arie’s Yellow-and-Blue side are ahead of the Reds by two points and sit in second place on the table.
Many players on this year’s squad haven’t experienced an Under-19 Derby, however, Gaby Kanichowsky is someone who can describe the feelings one experiences playing in this type of match-up: “From the team’s perspective you have to look at this as just another game, but there’s 
no question that a Derby is a totally different experience. The fact is that last year we lost two Derbies and the atmosphere, the feelings and the pressure before one of these games you could say is as close as it comes to a First Team match. Even more than the Champions League Youth League matches.”
Kanichowsky, who is playing for the youth team and has trained with the First Team had a major learning curve this season: “First off, the season began with the Champions League Youth League which in itself is a totally different experience. We knew we wouldn’t go very far in the tournament as it was our first time in the competition along with our side being fairly young. From a personal standpoint, I learnt a tremendous amount and having had the opportunity to train with the First Team was very important. Playing in the Toto Cup gave me thirst for more.”
Only 18 years of age, Kanichowsky didn’t deny that the transition to train with the First Team was tough: “At the beginning, training with the First Team and playing with the youth side was difficult. I had problems with my self confidence when I was with the big team and that affected my play on Saturday. With time, I realized that it didn’t make a difference where I played and that I had to give 100%. After a couple of games, I was able to make the transition. The First Team players really supported me when I made mistakes, they would explain what to do, where to go on the pitch and that really helped me.”
The midfielder has scored two goals this season, also discussed the Maccabi “Shachar” year so far: “We’re on the right path. We have had some ups and downs all year and we really want to leave a mark on the Derby, that we are a team fighting for the league title. This season has been more difficult and challenging, but we have a young team that wants to continue to learn.”
Youth Department Action, Saturday
Hapoel “Nisanov” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:00, Wolfson Facility
The big Derby returns to the Toto Youth League as Ziv Arie’s Yellow-and-Blue will 
kickoff against their city rivals and face Shlomi Mitelka who just last year was a coach in Maccabi’s Youth Department. After defeating Tubruk last week, the Yellow-and-Blue will be looking for an additional 3-points against the Reds that will get them closer to the top of the table.
Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Raanana, 09:00, Kiryat Shalom Training Facility
Maccabi “Oded” who took the victory in their Derby match last week are getting ready to take on Raanana on Matchday 13 of the Under-17 League. Ori Uzan and Leon Asraf’s side is atop the table and will attempt to extend their lead this Saturday.
Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – SC “Morris” Ashdod, 08:30, Kiryat Shalom
We’ve got a top of the table clash in Under-16 action this week. The teams are tied on points and a win in this game will give the advantage to one of the two sides. Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer’s team will be up early Saturday morning for their 08:30 start time in this crucial game.
Hapoel “Rami” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 10:20, Wolfson Training Facility
Erez Belfer’s team will also be playing in a Derby at Wolfson on Saturday as both teams share first place and they are even on points. The club will be looking for the victory and the chance to open up an important 3-point advantage at the top of the table.
Maccabi “Shay” Netanya – Maccabi “Team 2” Tel Aviv, 16:15, Shapira, Netanya
The young Yellow-and-Blue of Ran Elias will visit Netanya to try and continue their fine form after winning their State Cup match last week.
Yellow vs Green 2002/03’s Key Match
The Yellow-and-Blue and Maccabi Haifa have a very rich history that has gone on for decades. Bloomfield, Kiryat Eliezer and now Sammy Ofer have hosted many matches that will be etched in the memories of the fans forever. This Sunday, the Israeli Classico will take place once again and now is the perfect time to take a trip down memory lane to remember some of the great matches between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.
The 2002/03 season was one of the closest ever in Israeli football history. The two sides battled head to head all season long in a year that the Yellow-and-Blue also took part in an unsuccessful European campaign. On Matchday Three, Nir Klinger’s Tel Aviv side hosted the club from Haifa but fell on Giovanni Rosso’s goal.
The league continued to be neck and neck and on Matchday 14, Maccabi visited the Greens at Kiryat Eliezer in one of the most unforgettable games between the two teams. In the 11th minute, Maccabi was awarded a penalty after a handball in the Haifa box. Baruch Dego stepped up to take the spot kick and kicked the ball off of the post and into the goal. Nothing seemed to go easy for Maccabi as Haifa answered back very quickly when Nigerian Aiyegbeni Yakubu drew his side even in the 14th minute.
The second half began with Baruch Dego leading a counter attack in the 46th minute when he sent a perfect ball to Andreas Prohonenkovs who was all alone in front of keeper Dudu Aoute. The Latvian made sure that Aoute would have no chance to make the save and gave his side the lead. Maccabi was able to hold the advantage until the 81st minute when Adoram Keise headed in a perfect ball to tie up the match once more.
The game looked to be heading towards a 2:2 draw until it was time for Amir Turgeman to put his mark on the match. The striker, who had come on for Rodrigo Goldberg, flicked Liran Strauber’s goalie kick with his head. Prohonenkovs raced downfield with the ball and took Arik Benado with him. His cross went to an awaiting Turgeman who scored the winner in the 84th minute giving Maccabi the win over Haifa in a key match that eventually helped the Yellow-and-Blue to the championship.
Arie The Derby isn’t just any other match
This coming Saturday the First Team will be getting ready for the Israeli Classico against Haifa on Sunday, but the fans can get their football fill on Saturday when the youth team, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visits the Wolfson Training Facility to take on Hapoel Tel Aviv in a Derby matchup at 12:00.
Ziv Arie’s side has already experienced many types of games and his team knows exactly what the importance of this week’s Derby is: “Every coach including
myself likes to say the the Derby is just another game, but it isn’t just any other match. It may not be the First Team but nonetheless it’s still a Derby. There won’t be much difference in the preparations other than we will focus on Hapoel. Last year we took two big hits from the Derbies and it’s still on my mind. I’m positive the players will come into the match full force and whoever will concentrate on the small details will win.”
Arie’s team is still a way off from where he would like to see it: “I can’t deny that we may not be fighting for the title right now, which is something that the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth clubs always aim for. It sounds like a cliche but we are a young team and things take time, perhaps even longer than we thought. We had a nice winning streak that was broken by Raanana and this past Saturday we had a good win against Tobruk where we played much better, especially in the first half. We controlled the ball well and had a number of chances, but it still wasn’t an easy win. This may continue until our youngsters upfront improve game by game.”
Bosz-Winning by playing attractive and dominant football
Peter Bosz, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s brand new.head coach was officially introduced at Thursday morning’s press conference prior to the club’s Sunday encounter with Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium. Club CEO Martin Bain began the proceedings welcoming the Dutchman to the Yellow-and-Blue family as the former Vitesse boss spoke about his expectations, impressions and life in Tel Aviv:
מסיבת העיתונאים הראשונה של פטר בוס
Welcome by Maccabi Tel Aviv CEO Martin Bain:
“We are here to welcome our new coach Peter Bosz who we believe has a
ll of the attributes to help move the club forward and we have signed him to an 18-month contract. We hope to continue to build on the success the club has had so far as well as helping us all reach our ambitions for Maccabi. We are all here to help him reach his goals along with his assistant Hendrie Kruzen.”
Questions for Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new Head Coach, Peter Bosz:
Why did you choose to come to Maccabi?
“I played 5 years abroad and had experiences playing in France, Germany and Japan. After that point I wanted to develop myself as a coach and did so in Holland for the past 15 years. When this chance came along it was at just the right moment and the right thing for me to do. I discussed it with Jordi and I am looking forward to advancing outside of Holland as well.”
What do you know about Maccabi?
“I’ve studied the players and I was lucky that one of your fantastic players came to me in one Sheran Yeini. We talked a lot about the club, the players and the country. Now I have to get to know the players and it’s only when you work with them that you really get to know them. My sole focus is now on Maccabi. I have to get to know the players and they have to get to know me.”
Expectations going forward:
“Since the club has been champions the past few years, won a Treble and played in the Champions League, things have been going pretty good. But I have to begin to get to know the players and help them take the next step. The aim is always to become champions and that is our goal now. I want to bring out the best out of my players.”
Style of play:
“I like to win but I also like to play attractive and dominant football. With Vitesse we pressed forward and built from behind, but I have to see the qualities of the players I have here and we will see what we can build together.”
On leaving in the middle of the season from Vitesse:
“I was not happy leaving Vitesse in the middle of the year and I’ve been with club for a long time as both a player and coach. I want to be here in Israel for at least 18 months. At Vitesse they had a number of head coaches for very short periods of time but I stayed with them for 2.5 years. This is my track record. So far the people here are warm and friendly.”
About Dutch football and the influence of Johan Cruyff:
“As a child I watched a lot of football and I saw how Johan Cruyff played and how he thought about football on and off of the pitch. The Dutch school of thought is based on those principles.”
Moving to Israel:
“As a football player I was here in the early 1990’s with my Fren
ch team in Herzliya and with Feyenoord when we played against Petach Tikva. So I’ve been here before and I knew what to expect coming to Israel. I’ll be living in Tel Aviv, but my children will stay in Holland. My wife is coming next week and when I was here in the past I can say that Tel Aviv made a wonderful impression on me. Everybody that knows Tel Aviv said to me that it’s a great city to live in.”
Upcoming plans for Maccabi:
“We have to work hard, all of us from the coaches to the players. I am not planning to change everything here as the club has won championships and titles but I want to help the club move a level up and will make some changes. I want to bring good football and entertain the fans. It’s possible to do that and also get results. It’s difficult but we will work hard.”
The Israeli Classico against Maccabi Haifa is on Sunday:
“It’s not easy for me to put a big mark on the match on Sunday but we will all work together preparing for the game. Jordi and the other coaches have been very helpful so far and this will continue.”
Maccabi Tel Aviv Sports Director Jordi Cruyff:
On upcoming plans for the January transfer window:
“We’ve always added new players in January and have done so when we were in first place. We are a team that always looks to increase the quality and level of the team during this time period. Of course, we have some plans ready and have been actively scouting for the past 5 months, but Peter needs to see what he has first and what he may lack. From there we 
can see what types of players we will need to bring in.”
On hiring Peter Bosz:
Over the years I’ve had conversations with Peter and it’s part of my job to be alert as to see what situations coaches are in. We have sent a number of coaches to England and to other top leagues from Maccabi. I’m very happy that after a lot of talking, Peter is now here and I plan on giving him all the tools and resources to succeed with Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
On bringing in a Dutch coach:
“It was easier to bring in Spanish and Portuguese coaches at the beginning. Easier to adapt to Israel and the style of play. Now was the chance to bring in someone who could offer a specific style of football.”
About the foreign players with the club:
“The foreigners are a small portion of the total players at the club but they have been a big part of the success throughout the years. Many have been very happy here in Israel. They enjoy life here, life with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the project that we are involved with.”
Oz Raly Loaned to Kiryat Shemona
Oz Raly will be loaned to Kiryat Shemona after Maccabi Tel Aviv came to terms with the Galilee club and Bnei Yehuda.
Sports Director, Jordi Cruyff, said to the official website: “We want to thank Oz for his professionalism during his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv and wish him the best of success with his new club.”
Raly joined Maccabi Tel Aviv in September to help strengthen the club for their Champions League group stage matches. During the time he was with the team he took part in three matches: Two league games against Maccabi Petach Tikva and Beitar Jerusalem along with a Toto Cup match against Bnei Yehuda.
Watch: Peter Bosz’s first visit to Kiryat Shalom
פיטר בוס באימון בכורה בקריית שלום
Welcome: Bosz & Kruzen arrive in Israel
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new coach Peter Bosz and assistant Hendrie Kruzen
landed in Israel this afternoon. The pair will head to Kiryat Shalom to meet the players at this evening’s training session. Tomorrow, the coach will be officially introduced at a 10am press conference (live on the official website) prior to the club’s match on Sunday against Maccabi Haifa.
Peter Bosz who replaces Slavisa Jokanovic was appointed head coach this past Monday after leading Vitesse Arhem for the past two seasons.
Eran Zahavi December’s Player of the Month
Six out of the eight Maccabi Tel Aviv goals belonged to the captain, Eran Zahavi and this fact was definitely not forgotten by the Maccabi FIRST members who voted for #7 as the December Player of the Month. 74% voted for Zahavi and now one of you will have a chance to win a 32” TV from the contest’s sponsor, HISENSE.
Today at 17:00, all those who voted for Zahavi will receive an SMS with a trivia question. The first to answer it correctly will win the prize.
But wait. Just before you get your mobile phones ready we wanted to let you know that Dor Micha finished in 2nd place with 10% of the vote, showing that you didn’t forget who assisted on some of Zahavi’s goals against Kiryat Shmona. Gal Alberman finished in 3rd.
