The Avi Cohen Youth Academy began the season as the first team to report back for training is the Club’s U-19’s – Maccabi Tel Avivc ‘Schahar’.

Eliezer Ben Aharon, who will begin his second season in-charge of the U-19’s took charge of the first session together with his staff which includes Assistant coach – Zion Cohen, Goalkeeping coach – Shura Ubarov, Fittness coach – Tal Volik and Physiotherapist – Or Aharon. The Youth team will consist of veteran youth team players as well as young players who were promoted from the U-17’s which won the championship last season.

Ben Aharon didn’t hide his excitement as he said after the session: “Despite the fact we are beginning our second season today, last season we worked for two thirds of the season . Covid19 halted our working progress and there is a feeling of an unfulfilled potential both in terms of the team and staff. Regardless, to open a second season as the Youth Team Coach of such a massive club – causes us to be immensely excited”.

“My expectations from the season are extremely high” Ben Aharon continued: “We gained a lot of experience and as coaching staff we feel more confident, connected and a lot more challenged. The club will continue the process of developing players as this is expected this season as well. The competition for places in the first team began today with the training session we held today and was relatively light due to the extremely hot weather conditions which made the lives difficult for the players and staff alike. This however is a reality we will have to get used to just like the way we missed 6 squad players to isolation and call-ups to the first team. We were forced to complete our squad with players from the U17’s and they proved that their place at the club has been justified. Covid19 will probably be with us for a while and it is important that players from the younger age group will remain part of our wide squad so that they understand our way. Finally I would like to wish everyone health and a successful season”.

The Youth Academy training camp got underway for the second season in succession. Dozens of kids aged between 8 and 15 began the first of the two-week-camp. The day of the young players began with a training session on the Kiryat Shalom pitch before taking part in a video session with the department’s analysts.

During the camp the players will continue participating in professional training sessions as well as holding meetings with a mental coach, a nutritionist, members of the medical staff etc.

Maccabi’s Under 17’s coach Ori David, who manages the training camp, said: “After a lot of preparations and hard work, we opened the training camp for the second time. It is really exciting to see the large number of players arriving from various clubs who have a thirst for information and knowledge of football. It is also very satisfying to see young players return for the second time. The camp was opened in a highly impressive manner and I really enjoyed seeing the level of the players and not less important, the level of their commitment to learn the professional aspects of our Academy’s philosophy. We ended the day with a lecture I gave on ‘The importance of the team in football’. During the week they are expected to have several surprises both on and off the pitch”.

The Club’s Youth Academy held over the past two days (Wednesday and Thursday) special days for young players from all across the country aged between 2002 and 2014. Ran Elias who leads the Youth Academy scouting department, managed the activity as alongside him were various coaches who all helped maintain the quality professionalism and pleasure. Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick Van Leeuwen, who heads the Academy, is interested in continuing to hold such open days for footballers of various ages.

The activity took place under the guidelines of The Ministry of Health and was split over the two-day-period between the Academy’s two sites of Kiryat Shalom training complex and the University compound. The players were divided according to their age groups as the coaching staff matched the level of the sessions according to the players’ age and ability which helped the youngsters fit into the training format. In the event that a player fits the criteria, the coaching staff is set to get in-touch with those players found suitable in order to continue the connection with them. The special day created an excellent chance for players from all across the country to come closer to the Club and take-in some of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s values.

Ran Elias, Head of Maccabi’s Academy Scouting Department summed up the activity: “We were pleasantly surprised by the number of young players who arrived despite the irregular and challenging time caused by Covid19. As opposed to previous seasons we decided to split the Open Day over a two-day-period and into two separate compounds, so that we could conduct the activity under the strict guidelines of the Ministry of Health. This is one of many projects we run during the season and hope to continue holding them in the future. Our aim is to see talented players from all across the country and give them the opportunity to train and play on the pitches of the Youth Academy and under our coaching staff. I would like to use the opportunity to thank all the coaches and club employees who took part in ensuring that such an activity was so successful”.

Niv Berkovic, 17,  who played for the Youth team last season and is also featured for Israel’s U-18’s, extended his contract at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick Van Leeuwen, told the club’s official website: “Niv is a midfielder who is playing for the moment at Maccabi’s U-19’s as well as a regular for Israel’s young national teams. We think that next season will be an important year for Niv to continue his development. We demand from all players to show stability and consistency so that we could enjoy good performances from him week in week out”.

Berkovic joined the club at the age of 12 and made 22 appearances in all competitions for the Youth Team. The central midfielder who made 16 appearances for Israel’s U-17’s and U-18’s national sides, added: “I am delighted to sign my first senior contract and would like to thank Maccabi for the opportunity. This is only the beginning and from here I will work even harder to justify the faith the club has shown in me”.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy is back to a regular training schedule at Kiryat Shalom and the players and coaching staff are so pleased to be able to work on their skills on the grass and in the gym at Kiryat Shalom.

After two months of lockdown, as each player had to try to keep fit at home, regular training got back into full swing a couple of weeks ago. We spoke to two of the youth team’s players, captain Omer Itzhaki and midfielder Nadav Nidam, who told us how it feels to be in back preparation for action next season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy has set up ties with Australian club Maccabi FC Caulfield of Melbourne with the aim of sharing information and know-how on training and on players.

With international travel currently restricted, contact can only be made on line and the Maccabi Academy technical staff are providing recorded video seminars for their Australian counterparts.

Both clubs expect to hold events in much closer proximity after lockdown measures end with the hope of holding seminars, staff visits and training camps and possibly sharing players.

Michael Kan, Caulfield’s coaching coordinator, expressed his delight at the online seminars and said the coaches were able to benefit from the information shared about the Youth Academy’s activities.

“We have been very pleased to find similarities between our own football philosophy and that of Maccabi Tel Aviv and it is a clear indication that we are on the right track. Our coaches have learned a great deal and they will be happy to hold more such meetings in the future,” Kan said.

“Caulfield’s aim is to give all players the chance to develop and excel through bettering our coaching and tuition. There is no better way to develop than to observe and learn from other clubs such as Maccabi Tel Aviv, who work at the highest level.

“We are proud to have held fruitful partnership between the clubs and we look forward to hosting some of your coaches at our club in Melbourne next year. By having an elite club such as Maccabi Tel Aviv doing coaching workshops here, I believe more Jewish kids will take up the global sport of football and through it we can keep the Jewish community connected,” he added.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy ended its two-month shut down and resumed training on Tuesday as the Youth under-19 side to under-15 took to work out at Kiryat Shalom.

The training, which is being conducted in line with Health Ministry guidelines, has restarted at a pace suited to the players’ current fitness level following their long layoff and their ability to only do individual work at home.

The Academy’s younger age groups will return to training on Sunday.

“It has felt like a return from the off-season break, only this time, we are back with the same players,” said youth team coach Eliezer Ben Aharon.

“The coronavirus restrictions will change some of the things we will need to do and the team will be divided into two groups who will not intermingle as we start up at an easy pace and try to discern the players’ fitness levels.”

Ben Aharon said that from what he could tell, the players looked in reasonably good and that the pace of exercises would increase as the team gets back to a regular routine.

U17 coach Ori David said it was a great feeling to return to action.

“We are back in our natural environment after two months of not playing and we will be able to do what we enjoy most of all. I have been very surprised to see the players’ fitness levels, they have worked well at home and have shown great self-discipline and diligence in trying conditions. We can’t wait to be back in training,” he said.