Category: News
The players with an emotional greeting for the New Year
What a year have we been through.
A Complex and challenging year
A year where we were all in pain
One we prayed and keep on praying.
We got excited when we could,
We achieved, and dedicated moments.
We wish ourselves a better and more peaceful year,
A year of achievements and titles.
But most importantly,
We wish that everyone returns home safely, healthy
And as soon as possible.
Happy New Year
Rosh Hashana in Belgrade: Maccabi travelled ahead of Midtjylland
Maccabi Tel Aviv jetted out to Serbia ahead of the Europa league MD2 home match against Danish side FC Midtjylland at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade.
Following last week’s dramatic late defeat away to Sporting Braga on MD1, Zarko Lazetic and his players will try celebrate the Jewish New Year by recording their first EUROPA League phase victory of the campaign.
The team are expected to land in Belgrade shortly before holding their pre-match Press Conference and final training session at the stadium.
Nachmias: “Every match like this is a lesson”
Idan Nachmais opened his account for the 2024/25 season with a volley in the 31st minute against Ironi Tiberias at Bloomfield but the 27-year-old defender was in no mood for celebrations at the end of the draw against the newly promoted side. “We didn’t look good enough and didn’t bring what we wanted to bring” he said, “Every match is a lesson. I am sure the coach will analyze things and find where we can improve and be better.”
Nachmias, who dedicated the goal to his boyhood friend who fell in action last year, said: “Obviously I was happy to score, to help the team and dedicate the goal to a friend of mine Shai Termin RIP. I am glad I could give the family and close friends a little bit of joy and place a smile on their faces.”
As the match was played behind closed following the restrictions of the Home Front Command, Nachmias said on playing in front of an empty stadium: “The fans always give us a significant push, especially at Bloomfield, but there are no excuses. We must win every match especially at home. Every match is a lesson and we will learn from it for the future.”
Lazetic’s summary of the 1-1 draw with Tiberias
Maccabi held to 1-1 by Tiberias
Preview:
Three days after the defeat away to Sporting Braga in the Europa League and four days before hosting FC Midtjylland in Belgrade, Maccabi returned to league action. Zarko Lazetic who guided Maccabi to four victories from the opening four league matches, will aim to maintain his 100% league record against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Due to the restrictions of the Home Front Command, the Israel Professional Football Leagues in view of the current security situation, the MD5 WINNER League match at Bloomfield was staged behind closed doors against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made seven changes from the side that started in Portugal handing young goalkeeper Ofek Melika his debut appearance in Maccabi’s goal. Nir Bitton who made two substitute appearances in Europe this season, made his first league start at the heart of defense since injuring his knee in December last year.
Bitton partnered Nemanja Stojic as the second central defender with Idan Nachmias deputizing at left back to complete Maccabi’s defensive line. Joris van OPvereem who was rested against Braga returned to the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completing the midfield trio. Hisham Layous and Wesley Patati who were both introduced as second half substitutes in Portugal, started on both wings with Eran Zahavi leading the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench, Lazetic named Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho and Osher Davida.
First Half
Welcomed onto the pitch by an empty Bloomfield stadium, newly promoted Tiberias didn’t feel the intimidation a visiting side would normally feel. Three minutes from the start, Ofek Melika, on his senior Maccabi debut, pulled a spectacular save to deny Tiberias an early lead. Four minutes later, Shai Konstantin found himself unmarked at the far post before snapping his shot which narrowly missed the top corner.
Tןberias sat back, soacking Maccabi’s pressure as goalkeeper Daniel Tenebaum who spent 8 years at Maccabi wasn’t put under any threat. A minute after the half hour mark, Maccabi finally took the lead from an unlikely source. Idan Nachmias, playing at left-back reacted first to a lose ball on the edge of the area before sending a volley that bounced infront of Tenenbaum and rolling in. Nemanja Stojic forced a save from Tenebaum and Wesley Patati cleared the crossbar with a powerful left foot drive as Maccabi continued to look dangerous.
On the stroke of halftime Maccabi came close to double their lead at the of an attack which began with a Melika long throw to Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder released Hisham Layous who charged forward and cut the ball back for Dor Pertetz whose effort was tipped over the crossbar by Tenebaum.
Second Half
Lazetic made one change at halftime as he introduced Osher Davida for Patati at the restart. In the 54th minute Davida almost made an immediate impact after he was sent charging down the right by Asante. Davida managed to cut into the area before his attempt of a cut back was cleared by Tiberias’ defense. Right on tbe hour mark Davida came close to score himself as he rose at the back post to head Layous’s cross which was caught by Tenenbaum on his line. Three minutes later Tiberias were back on level terms as Harun Shapso was allowed a free header that beat Melika to level the score.
Lazetic reacted with a triple substitution as Raz Shlomo, Issouf Sissokho and Elad Madmon came on for Nir Bitton, Joris van Overeem and Eran Zahavi on 73. In the 87th minute Lazetic made another change as Layous was replaced by Yonas Malede came on for the closing stages.
Nachmias: “We would like to continue the momentum”
Idan Nachmias was an unused substitute in Thursday’s Europa League dramatic late 2-1 defeat away to Sporting Braga. But from the bench, the 27-year-old defender who has been playing as a full back, remained adamant the team is ready for the tight fixture schedule. “We knew all along this is what we should expect this season” he said. “Once we secured qualification to the league phase, we knew to expect this overload but do everything to be ready for every match.”
Despite remaining in the bench, Nachmias, had a good view of his teammates let an 88th minute lead slip but remained positive: “Although I didn’t play, but I enjoyed watching the team from the sidelines as everyone battled and gave everything. Sometimes you win in the 90th minute and sometimes you lose but there were many positive things. We move on and look forward.”
On the transition between matches in Europe to the domestic league, Machmias added: “In my opinion it could only help us especially if we show up play like we know how to and win. This is the best remedy.”
On the way in which the foreign players and the rest of the team are coping with a complex situation of playing during war-time, Nachmias said: “The foreigners seem fine especially as the situation at the center of Israel for the moment doesn’t appear too stressful. Regardless we are all here with them. But the situation is not just stressful for the foreign players but also for our families as my brother is serving on the northern border with Lebanon. So this situation can encounter everyone on a more direct and personal level. One has to just detach himself because this is our profession which is what we are paid to do” he added. “We would like to win every match, win the championship and as many titles as possible. So we should be prepared for every match or challenge.”
Ahead of the switch from Europe to a match against newly promoted side Tiberias, Nachmias said: “We are used to this kind of transition as this is not our first year of playing abroad on Thursdays and in the league on Sundays. For the moment, the match against Tiberias is the most important thing in the world as we would like to continue the momentum we have in the league”.
Lazetic ahead of Tiberias
Food packaging: Record numbers collected
The Maccabi Tel Aviv foundation, ‘Ahim Lasemel’ and around 1000 volunteers took part in the annual food packaging project ahead of Rosh Hashana as part of the ‘Good deeds in Yellow’ project.
This year the activity was dedicated to those murdered on October 7th and those who fell in action during the ‘Swords of Iron’ since the horrific attack on Israel.
A record fee of NIS 640,000 was collected by the club’s fans in favor of the food packaging project as today no less than 3200 parcels were prepared and sent to families in need.
From the early hours of Friday morning until the afternoon some 1000 volunteers gathered at Bloomfield stadium for the packaging project which this year included food items for the new year as well as baby food.
