Ticket sales are underway for Maccabi's fifth play-off tie against Maccabi Petach Tikva

This Saturday night April 25th at 8.00pm, Maccabi Tel Aviv will travel to Maccabi Petach Tikva in gameweek 31 of the Israeli Premier ("Winner") League. Ticket sales are now underway and it's a great opportunity for all the club's loyal fans to get behind their beloved team in their continued efforts to expand their lead at the top of the table throughout the play-off period.

Tickets are now on sale, for Maccabi supporters only, at the official Maccabi shop at 147 Dizengoff St. in Tel Aviv and through the "Leaan" ticket agency, both online and at their offices at 101 Dizengoff St., also in Tel Aviv. If any remain, tickets will also be available at the "Hamoshava" Stadium ticket offices on the day of the match.

TICKET PRICES

At the official Maccabi shop at 147 Dizengoff St. in Tel Aviv and at the "Leaan" agency ticket offices: NIS 55

Online or by telephone (*8780): NIS 60

On matchday at 'Hamoshava' Stadium: NIS 50  

The 31st match day in the 'Winner League" provides Maccabi Tel Aviv a trip to the "Moshava" Stadium in order to face Maccabi Petah Tikva. Eitan Tibi spoke about the upcoming rival, the future and about the championship talks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOl1JrUuszA

"We are facing a team that reached the playoffs by hard work. Petah Tikva has so far made it very hard for every rival that they faced. In these sorts of games the defense has to be fully focused and beware of the turnovers. You can't argue with facts, we are at our best form in this critical stages, and the professional team deserves a lot of credit for that."

Regarding the media saying the championship race is over: "People talk and there is nothing wrong with that. There is a significant gap from Hapoel Be'er Sheve, but we won't take our foot of the gas until we win the championship, and even after grasping on the title, will keep playing in order to win".

Jordi Cruyff on Possibility for Future Collaborations and false rumors

Over the last few weeks, there has been much misinformation spread by the media on this issue. We acknowledge that at the moment, the setup of the progress of Israeli youth players is not ideal, as 18 year old players have to decide where their future lies.

We have been analyzing the situation for the last three years and came to the conclusion that a critical middle step is missing in the process. We brought up a suggestion to raise the age limit for the youth to 20, so that the players would have one or two extra years to make a possible transition in form. We also know that 18 is the age when military service comes into play, making this a very difficult moment for young players to deal with everything at once.

With this in mind, we have been looking at the option of collaborating with a team from the second division. I repeat, collaborating, which means not owning a team. The main idea is to try to direct our talents, and ensure that their training remains on the same level and methods that we use at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Competing against 30 year old players will offer them more resistance which, in my opinion, is actually the best way to learn football.

We are looking into this option, and it is important to say that everything is being dealt with under legal concerns. Regarding the stories of us creating a Maccabi B team, well that is complete nonsense. Stories of collaborating with a club and not allowing the club be promoted to a higher league is again complete nonsense. Actually, I think it would be a big compliment if a team such as a B team qualified and got promotion. It would mean that the collaboration is successful, so for sure on our part there is would be no limitation on this issue.

A surprising guest arrived to Kiryat Shalom Training Ground this week, Mr. Shimon Peres, former president of Israel, paid a visit to Maccabi's youth team complex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eOe_s5mzCo

This visit was held during the 'Peres Center for Peace' mutual football training initiative, were Israeli and Palestinian kids trained together. Maccabi's CEO Mr. Martin Bain met with the former president and granted him an official club shirt with the number 67 as a gesture to the upcoming Independence Day of the Israeli state.

Peres said at the venue:  "I would like to send my best of wishes to Maccabi Tel Aviv FC. It is always better to play sports then to fight each other. I also want to deeply thank Maccabi Tel Aviv FC for hosting this mutual training initiative between a team from Sderot and the Palestinian Region". 

The annual Remembrance Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism was held yesterday at the Youth Department training complex. Maccabi's CEO Martin Bain attended as did Youth Department director Nir Levin as well as first team captain Sheran Yeini.‎

Sheran Yeini has agreed personal terms to join Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem

Team captain Sheran Yeini has agreed personal terms to join Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem and will leave Maccabi Tel Aviv after 10 years in the senior side.  Vitesse, currently fifth in Holland’s Eredivisie, tabled an official offer to Maccabi a fortnight ago, expressing their intent to activate a buy-out clause in Yeini’s contract and buy the 29 year-old.

 

Yeini joined Maccabi at the age of six and is the longest serving player at the club, with 10 seasons at senior level, 333 appearances and 16 goals. He told the club’s official website: “The decision I took to move on at the end of the season was one of the toughest in my life and a step I have been contemplating for a long while. This decision wasn’t a financial one, nor was it due to a feeling of unhappiness. It was taken because I have the desire to maximise my potential and fulfill my boyhood dream of playing abroad. Maccabi Tel Aviv is more than just a football club or a work-place, it has been a home to me since the age of six. I would like to thank the club and its senior management: Mitch Goldhar the owner, Martin Bain the CEO and sports director Jordi Cruyff, who all treated me with the utmost propriety and made me feel proud to value my association with this club, which has given me so much. The coaching, medical and administrative staff, my fellow team-mates and the fans who followed me and supported me all those years deserve more than just these words, so I will find the right time to thank them. These words sound like a final summary, but my work and the team's work here is far from complete, as all of us will do everything to reach our targets till the end of the season”.