Category: News
“Right now we’re focusing on the match against Beitar”
Maccabi Tel Aviv is preparing for their match with Beitar Jerusalem on Monday October 26th, 20:55 at Bloomfield Stadium in stormy weather conditions. Just prior to the club’s final training session, Barak Itzhaki spoke about playing against the team he grew up with and transitioning between competitions:
On playing his former club:
“Matches with Beitar are always exciting for me but I’ll have to keep my emotions in check and concentrate on the match.”
Transitioning between the competitions:
“In the match against Dynamo Kiev we saw an improvement and against Porto we 
also played better football. We will have to put a bigger emphasis on the transition between the two competitions. There are people in the club that make sure we are prepared properly for the upcoming match. Right now we’re focusing on the match against Beitar Jerusalem. Maccabi is a professional club that knows how to make sure the players know the difference between the domestic league and Europe and we’ve also learned this over the years. Tomorrow will be an opportunity to show this.”
About the upcoming match:
“Omer Atzili is a terrific player with a ton of potential but we are preparing for Beitar as a team. They always know how to be ready for a big game and play attractive football. They are a big club that always competes.”
Last week’s game:
“Every player wants to play, but the decision as to who plays or not is the coach’s and it’s a bit sad that instead of discussing the assist were talking about who tore the shirt. I shook the coach’s hand and I wasn’t angry at all. He knows that it’s not personal nor deliberate or a statement.”
Jokanovic: “We have a responsibility to be ready”
Slavisa Jokanovic, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s head coach addressed the media about their upcoming match with Beitar Jerusalem on Monday October 26th, 20:55 at Bloomfield Stadium. The Yellow-and-Blue will begin a busy week that also includes a Toto Cup clash Wednesday against Bnei Yehuda and a Derby this coming Saturday evening.
יצחקי: “נראה שאנחנו יודעים לעשות את ההפרדה”
“We have a very important match tomorrow and just two days later we have a game against Bnei Yehuda, I don’t know how we have such a schedule like this. I don’t see the reason of having to play three games in one week. We are the only Israeli club playing and representing Israel in Europe and the league must help us out with the schedule of games. We will play the matches but I’m not even thinking of Wednesday’s match just yet. In my opinion whoever comes up with the schedule doesn’t understand football.
On his relationship with Beitar’s coach:
“I know Slobodan for quite a while. That’s life, you never know when you’ll meet people in the future and I’m happy that we are together again. But tomorrow we will put our friendship aside and play the match.”
Transitioning between the competitions:
“It’s not that difficult to play in the different competitions. We have a responsibility to be ready for every situation. We are football players and tomorrow we will come into a packed stadium where all of the fans want to see us win. That’s motivation enough. We are privileged to be working in this profession and we will be ready. We lost the Champions League match and we have the opportunity to correct what went wrong last game.”
The latest on Igiebor and Radonjic’s injuries:
“Both Nosa and Dejan have improved but they won’t be available for the upcoming match.”
Maccabi Shachar loses to Maccabi Haifa 3-2
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv hosted Maccabi Haifa this afternoon in the Ligat “TOTO” League at Ramla Stadium and fell to the Greens 3:2 on a 77th minute goal Mohamd Awad. After a mid-week loss to Porto on Matchday Three of the Champions League Youth League,
the Yellow-and-Blue wanted to get back on the winning track against their arch rival. In the 7th minute Tel Aviv had a terrific chance when Tomer Altman stole the ball at midfield passed it to Or Dasa who broke into the box but his shot came up short by 
the goal post. Maccabi would take a 1:0 lead in the 24th minute when Altman’s pinpoint pass was perfectly headed into the Haifa goal by captain Dan Glazer. Just 8 minutes later the the hosts almost doubled their lead on a a Dasa header but this time Haifa ‘keeper Roee Fucs was able to knock the ball away to safety.
Though Maccabi was controlling the flow of the match, Haifa would tie the game up after a mistake by Dasa in the 38th minute. The midfielder sent a pass backwards that was picked off by Mohamd Awad who evened the score at 1:1 forcing coach Ziv Arie to immediately substitute Dasa off in favor of Mahmoud Alawesat.
The second half started with Maccabi making their second substitution
of the match as Shay Golan was introduced in place of Omri Haramati. The Yellow-and-Blue would then take the lead again 2:1 as Gabi Kanichowsky would score from an assist by Alawesat. However, the lead would be short-lived as Idan Yogev’s own goal
would draw the two sides even once again. Arie would then bring in Lazar Durovic, Ran Vaturi and Dor Galili, but Awad would score his second goal of the match in the Yellow-and-Blue box and beat ‘keeper Sahar Ohayon as Maccabi would go down to defeat 3:2.
The Lockerroom: Checking out the Winter Collection
חדר הלבשה בוחן את קולקציית החורף
חדר הלבשה בוחן את קולקציית החורף
‘חדר הלבשה’ בוחן את קולקציית החורף
Yogev: “This is a huge game”
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, the youth department’s Under-19 club is currently participating in a historic season as they are the first ever Israeli team to play in the Champions League Youth League. The young Yellow-and-Blue have played in the first round of European matches, taken flights to both Chelsea in London and Porto plus have competed in the domestic league.
On Saturday, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will face Maccabi Haifa “Shmuel” in the Ligat “TOTO” League in one of the great Israeli matches that takes place every season. Ziv Arie’s team landed back in Israel on Wednesday night and the following 
day were already preparing for this important home encounter that will take place at the Ramla Municipal Stadium at 12:00. Right before the team had their final training session prior to the match, the club’s central defender Idan Yogev talks about the first round of Champions League games, how the team has improved over the past few months and of course about the upcoming “Classico”:
“We feel that we’ve improved since our first Champions League game,” Yogev said. “Slowly but surely we’re learning about the physical aspects of the European clubs. After three games I can say that we are good enough to battle for one of the group’s playoff spots. Other than the match against Chelsea which is a team that is on a totally different level, we were able to play toe to toe with both Kiev and Porto who are at the same level as we are, except for their offense which is a bit more polished than ours.”
On Saturday’s Classico match:
“I think that Maccabi and Haifa are the clubs who battle year in and year out for the Youth Championship. Last year we took the title and the year before they did. I hope that this year we will win again. We will come into the match sharp and focused in order to take the three points.”
About the start of the domestic league season:
“At the end of the day the team that earns the most points from the beginning of the 
year will win the league. Maccabi Haifa is a tough opponent and it won’t be easy against them, but we have to come into the match with confidence. We’re a team that plays in the Champions League and I hope we will show that on the pitch.”
What roles the veteran players have to take in the match:
“The whole team knows that this is a huge game and that we have to win. Myself along with Dan Glazer and Maxim Grechkin give the club quiet and confidence, we don’t go after the other players or pressure them and they know that we are here for them and not just for the match against Haifa.”
On home field advantage:
“We’re hoping that Ramla will be full of Yellow-and-Blue fans. Unfortunately there are less fans that come to Ramla who came to games at Kiryat Shalom and the fans have I understand that Ramla is now our home. In my opinion Ramla is a great place to play especially for a youth team that has a great pitch and plenty of place for the supporters. It’s the Maccabi Under-19 home stadium and I hope that we will see it packed on Saturday.”
In Goal- Tal Ben Chaim vs. Sheran Yeini
The Yellow-and-Blue winger has had many memorable matches while playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv and this past Saturday is just another one that will go down in his colorful career when he put on the ‘keeper’s shirt in the 82nd minute as Daniel Lifshitz was shown a red card and was sent off.
Ben Chaim’s name will be added to the record books as a player who replaced an ejected ‘keeper with the last one being Maccabi’s former captain Sheran Yeini.
And it happened twice for him with the first time being during the 2010/11 season on Matchday 30 against Hapoel Beer Sheva at Bloomfield Stadium. With the visitors leading 1:0, the then Maccabi ‘keeper Liran Strauber committed a foul on Ibrahim Basit in the box, and was shown a red card by referee Eitan Tabrizi. Yeini was 
chosen to play ‘keeper and came close to saving David Revivo’s free kick. Yeini dove to the correct corner, got his fingers on the ball, but was unable to make the save.
Four years later, Yeini was thrust into the same situation when the Yellow-and-Blue hosted Maccabi Netanya last season and had to pull on the ‘keeper’s jersey once again. With Netanya leading 1-0 on a goal by Larry Kayode, Maccabi stormed back to score three unanswered goals and take a 3-1 lead.
In the 79th minute, Juan Pablo received a red card after touching the ball with his hand outside the box and again it was the captain who took matters into his own hands. Yeini donned the ‘keeper’s gloves and stood in goal for the final 11 minutes of the match. Netanya tried to pressure Yeini and his 88th minute save on Omer Tzalicher preserved the score.
“The truth is that Sheran Yeini actually plays pretty well in goal. Maybe we should think about him starting against Kiryat Shemona next week,” said coach Pako Ayestaran following the game. The captain added, “I’m already a veteran ‘keeper and this was my second game in goal for a league match. I’m a little disappointed with my work in goal so I’ll have to work in it during practice.”
Youth Department Saturday Action – October 24
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa “Shmuel” – 12:00, Ramla Municipal Stadium
After playing commendably away at Porto in the Champions League Youth League, Maccabi’s Under-19 side returns to play in the Israel “TOTO” League “Classico” when they host Maccabi Haifa on Matchday Five of the domestic league. Ziv Arie’s club comes into the match with two straight wins in league play and finds themselves in fourth place just one point behind the Greens.
Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – International Break
Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – The match against Maccabi Haifa has been postponed to a later date.
Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Ramat Gan – 09:00, The pitch next to the Ramat Gan Safari
After a perfect start in their first two matches, the Under-15 Central District side will play away but close to home against Hapoel Ramat Gan who are in 11th place with one point.
Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon – Maccabi “Team 2” Tel Aviv – 10:30, Ramat HaSharon Synthetic Pitch
With a win and a loss the Sharon District Under-15 team will look to defeat Ramat HaSharon who have yet to collect a point this season.
New Beginnings: Maccabi Eli Fuchs Tel Aviv visits Freiburg
Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv arrived home last night after a three day visit to the German club SC Freiburg where they had a training, educational and sports program. The joint programming between the clubs is part of the celebration of 50 years of relations between Israel and Germany and being that Tel Aviv and Freiburg are sister cities this trip continues to strengthen the bonds between them.
Eliezer Ben Aharon’s club departed for Germany on Sunday just a few hours before the First Team and Maccabi “Shachar” left for Porto. Representatives from Freiburg were waiting in the airport to help the youngsters get to their accommodations and to the visit The Black Forest which borders France and Switzerland. That same evening the players ate dinner at a castle in the city with SC Freiburg’s management and professional staff. Local college students also joined the players at the dinner and while they were able to get to know one another and they also attended the youth match two days later. On Monday, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” had a training session on the pitch adjacent to the Freiburg Stadium and during the day the club also took a tour of the old city and visited the brand new synagogue. The team were given an explanation of the city’s history and continued on the tour.
Tuesday the club had a tour of the youth department’s training facility and then played the match against SC Freiburg. Maccabi won 4:2 on goals by Muflach Shalata, Idan Tzioni, Yam Ben Yehuda and Jonas J’brin. In the evening the players celebrated Guy Ben Harush’s birthday as well as Lina Aharonov who was part of the staff that joined the club on the trip.
The Yellow-and-Blue players represented Maccabi and the State of Israel with passion and pride and were a shining example of how relations can continue to be built with clubs around the world and look forward to continuing this new beginning with SC Freiburg.
The HISENSE Halftime Challenge
For years you’ve seen David Beckham’s stunning pinpoint free kicks that have amazed the crowds as they chant his name and now it could be your turn plus you’ll win a prize. The HISENSE Halftime Challenge gets underway this coming match against Maccabi Netanya on November 7.
What do you do?
Go to the Official Maccabi Tel Aviv Facebook Page and answer the question on the post about the HISENSE Halftime Challenge. (You can only answer once)
On Sunday, the names of the winners will appear on the HISENSE Facebook Page.
The first three people that answer the question correctly or that were closest to the answer, (because it won’t be easy) will win a chance to participate in the Halftime Challenge to try and put a free kick through one of the holes in the goal from 16 meters out.
What prizes can you win?
The winner will take home a 40″ inch or 32″ inch Flat Screen TV or one of the two tablets all sponsored in part by HISENSE.
So what are you waiting for?! Answer the question and start practicing on the walls of your home today. GOOD LUCK!
For the rules and regulations, click here
