Deila: “I like working at clubs with expectations.”

Smiles, disappointments but in particular lots of goals in yet another action-packed Youth Division weekend

The Under-19s were not the only Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth division team to leave the pitch grinning on Saturday. The Under-17s also had something to smile about after they beat a difficult Bnei Sakhnin team 1-3 away to hold on to the top spot in the league. Omer Lakao opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season and Roy Ronen followed with an additional two to bring his season total to eight. In between Roy Ronen's brace Bnei Sakhnin managed to pull one back but his second three minutes later put an end to the story. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" have yet to lose a match this season and now have ten wins and two draws after twelve season encounters that leave them top of the national U17 Premier League.  

Another Maccabi Youth team perched atop their league are the Under-16s, despite dropping their first points in eleven encounters after a 2-2 draw at the Wolfson training ground in the first Tel Aviv derby of the 2014/15 season. Head coach Shlomi Mitelka's charges will be disappointed in having relinquished a two-goal half-time advantage, acquired through the efforts of Eden Kartsev and Guy Dahan, allowing their opponents to pull both goals back in the latter stages of the match.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad', the club's Under-15 Team 1, are still racking up perfect numbers after eight league outings in the nationwide U15 League Central District, and this weekend head coach Eyal Tzahi's youngsters did it in exquisite style. They dispatched their rivals Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle with impunity, scoring eight goals and conceding none. Idan Zioni scored a hat-trick, Tal Daon added a brace and Amit Mordehaev, Roy Harush and Rotem Ziv all contributed individual efforts to the 0-8 rout. Meanwhile their Team 2 age-mates were forced to settle for a draw in a tensely fought encounter with northern namesakes Maccabi Haifa at Kiryat Shalom training ground.  Head coach Erez Belfer's squad held on to a slender 1-0 lead provided by Yam Ben Yehuda until five minutes from time, but a late Haifa goal resulted in a 1-1 stand-off.

Also at Kiryat Shalom, the Under-14 Team South were engaged in a far more goal-filled affair which unfortunately ended with head coach Ori David's youngsters on the wrong end of the equation. David Degu, Gil Ben Shlush and Tal Binyamin Yagudaev all scored for the home side but opponents Ashdod FC conjured up four in reply to triumph 3-4. By sheer coincidence, head coach Nissim Dvash's Under-14 Team North finished their topsy-turvy home encounter against Hapoel Haifa with an almost identical scoreline, only in their case it was 4-3, representing their fourth league victory of the season. Ofir Scayek, Asaf Hershko, Yehonatan Izen and Idan Rozenfeld were the team's four different goalscorers.

Finally, Maccabi's Under-13 Team South returned from municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda on Friday after a 1-1 draw and Team North triumphed in an entertaining 4-5 away tie against Maccabi Shoham.

Smiles, disappointments but in particular lots of goals in yet another action-packed ...

The Maccabi Youth Division invited children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations to join them for the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle

Tonight the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division continued their annual tradition of celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah by lighting together the first holiday candle. Special guests at the event were children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations, who enjoyed both the ceremony itself as well as the opportunity to meet members of both the Maccabi youth and senior squads. "Educating for Excellence" strives to strengthen Israeli society by reducing social gaps and creating equal opportunities for children with potential for excellence who reside within Israel’s social and geographic periphery. They currently operate over 30 unique educational centres throughout Israel. "Larger than Life"  aim to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of children with cancer, along with their families, regardless of religion, race or gender.

Together with Division secretary Nissim Sidi, Youth Division football director Nir Levin was in charge of the evening and invited a number of figures from the Division to join in lighting the first candle: Division veterans Baruch Azarti and Yehuda Livni together with Shlomi Alberg, owner and managing director of the PROFIT company, sponsors of the Maccabi Youth Division teams. Following the candle-lighting  ceremony, all the children present were treated to traditional Hanukkah doughnuts. Children from the "Larger than Life" and "Educating for Excellence" organisations got an extra special treat with the opportunity to meet with Maccabi senior squad members Barak Levy and Dor Peretz and Under-19 stars Yonatan Cohen and Mavis Tchibota, who also distributed special Hanukkah gifts to all the children.

The Maccabi Youth Division invited children from the "Larger than Life" and ...

Maccabi's U17s and 16s will both be playing at home on Saturday. The U19s Cup tie is scheduled for January 3^rd

An intriguing slate of matches awaits the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division this Saturday, with the Under-19s' home tie against fellow title contenders Ironi Kiryat Shmona topping the bill. The match at the Kiryat Shalom training ground will start at noon and be broadcast live on Israeli sports channel 55. Head coach Ziv Arie's lads go into the match trailing current U19 Premier League leaders Maccabi Haifa by just two points and will hope to reproduce the magic that last week led to their greatest margin of victory so far this season, a comprehensive 0-8 rout of Sektzia Nes Tziona. It was also announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be playing their first U19 State Cup tie at home against Hapoel Jerusalem on January 3^rd of next year.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", the club's Under-17s, will also be playing at home this Saturday when they defend their place at the top of the U17 Premier League table against Hapoel Ra'anana in an 8.30am kick-off at Kiryat Shalom. Later on at 2.15pm, the training ground's artificial pitch will be the scene of another Maccabi defence of the top spot when the Under-16s take on Hapoel Beer Sheva. The busy day at Kiryat Shalom will also the club's Under-15 Team 1, who host Ashdod FC at 10.45am. The only older side of Maccabi's Youth Division to play away on Saturday will be the Under-15 Team 2, who will travel to Kadima Tzoran FC for a 1pm kick-off.

Maccabi's Under-14 teams will both be playing away, Team North at Maccabi Petach Tikva at 8.30pm and Team South at nearby Maccabi Jaffa, also at 8.30am. The club's Under-13 Team North will travel to Ashdod FC and Team South will host Beitar Jerusalem at Kiryat Shalom at 12.30pm.   

Maccabi's U17s and 16s will both be playing at home on Saturday. ...

Maccabi's U16s and 15s both won to maintain their perfect season records

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s continued their good season form and registered their ninth league victory with a 3-2 win over fellow title contenders Hapoel Ra'anana. The victory was a hard-fought one, but goals by Amit Shapira, Guy Shetach and Ofri Mashta made sure that Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" maintained their place at the top of the national U17 Premier League eleven games into the season. Another Youth Division side enjoying a glorious opening to their season are head coach Shlomi Mitelka's Under-16s. Yesterday they stretched their unblemished run to ten games with a 4-2 home victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Yarin Sharabi scored a brace to bring his season total to seven goals. Eden Kartsev's eighth and Neil Goldberg's ninth provided the other two goals to keep Maccabi Tel Aviv "Fuchs" on top of the table with the most prolific attacking force in the national U16 Premier League.

In an additional match played at Kiryat Shalom, Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 beat Ashdod FC 1-0, their seventh win in as many league outings, to stay atop of the nationwide U15 League Central District. The winning goal was scored by David Degu, a youngster from Maccabi's Under-14 Team South, in his first appearance for the Under-15s. Head coach Erez Belfer's Under-15 Team 2 played out a goalless draw away to Kadima Tzoren FC.

By far the largest margin of victory in the Youth Division on Saturday was achieved by the Under-14 Team South, who played away at Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa and beat them comprehensively 0-9. Menahem Asrap and Yoav Lang scored braces, Tal Yagudaev, Osher Davida, Omer Yitzhaki, Elad Bracha and Omri Ram contributed the other five. Maccabi's Under-14 Team North suffered only their second loss of the season at the hands of Maccabi Petach Tikva 1-0. The Under-13 Team South were also at the wrong end of a losing scoreline, being beaten by Beitar Jerusalem 1-5. Finally, the Under-13 Team North won their contest away at Ashdod FC by a score of 3-4.

Maccabi's U16s and 15s both won to maintain their perfect season records

Maccabi's U17s and 16s both won away 0-2. The U15 Team 1 won a last-minute dramatic derby at Hapoel Tel Aviv  

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" maintained their one-point lead at the top of the national Under-17 Premier League after beating Maccabi Netanya away 0-2. The contest was decided before the half, with Tomer Altman scoring from the penalty spot with just ten minutes gone and, ten minutes later, Roy Ronen doubling "Oded"'s advantage. Maccabi's Under-16's saw off Hapoel Petach Tikva by the same 0-2 scoreline, but head coach Shlomi Mitelka's lads saved their work for the second half. Eden Kartsev scored on the hour mark and Guy Dahan finished matters off three minutes from time.

Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 also won away, but their victory was a harder fought one. Head coach Eyal Tzachi's squad assembled at municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv's Wolfson training ground for the first derby of the season. The visitors went ahead just shy of the hour mark courtesy of Adir Hardon but saw their slim margin wiped out just three minutes from time. But the dramatic winner was delivered by Tal Daon, who scored in the match's dying moments, to hand Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" a 1-2 victory and an extension of their perfect record after six league outings. Maccabi's Under-15 Team 2 were the Youth Division's only over-14 team to play at home this weekend, but unfortunately the home-side advantage did little to help them avoid their first loss of the season. A last-minute strike by Gal Sofer proved insufficient to overcome a two-goal deficit, accumulated in the first half, against Hapoel Haifa.

Maccabi's Under-14 Team South also suffered a 1-2 home defeat to a team from Haifa, in their case Maccabi Haifa. The visitors jumped to a 0-2 advantage with two early goals before Eden Silam pulled one back before the break to give the home side hope of a second-half revival. Unfortunately the second half remained goalless sealing the team's defeat. The Under-14 Team North also played at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, but with far better results. They breezed past Maccabi Emek Heffer courtesy of a brace by Raveh Asayag and individual efforts by Ariel Sheratzki and Guy Mizrahi. Maccabi's Under-13 Team North lost a derby at home to Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-2 but the Under-13 Team South got perhaps the best result of the Youth Division this weekend with a 2-6 triumph at Ironi Modi'in.

Maccabi's U17s and 16s both won away 0-2. The U15 Team 1 ...

Maccabi's Youth Division enjoyed an exceptional Saturday with six wins, one draw and just a single loss

Saturday saw the entire Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division in action, from the Under-19s on down. The club's Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" hosted a difficult opponent at Kiryat Shalom training ground, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, who demonstrated surprising skill, especially in the first half. It was "Eldad" that got off to an explosive start, scoring in the first minute courtesy of Almog Eylon. The visitors however were not intimidated and quickly turned the match around with goals in the 15^th and 17^th minutes, and maintained their advantage until the half-time whistle. Maccabi replied after the restart with two quick goals, Omer Lakao on 45 minutes and Shay Golan four minutes later, to take a 3-2 lead and from there they never looked back. In the closing moments "Eldad" added a fourth courtesy of Ittimar Shaviro and the 4-2 victory kept them atop the national U17 Premier League with seven wins and two draws in nine outings.

Another Maccabi Youth Division team perched on top of their league are coaches Shlomi Mitelka and Leon Asraf's Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs". They stretched their perfect start to the season to matchweek 8 by overwhelming Ashdod FC 7-0, also at Kiryat Shalom. Desalin Balacho and Natanel Peretz scored a brace each, Rom Wasserman, Guy Dahan and Ron Zamir added the other three.

In a match also held at Kiryat Shalom, the club's Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", beat Ironi Modi'in 3-0 to hold on to the top spot in their league. "Eldad" got off to a quick start, scoring two early goals courtesy of Amit Mordehaev and Raz Hadar, and Gal Porat added a third in injury time. Under-15 Team 2 won by the same scoreline, winning away at Maccabi Herzliya 0-3. After a goalless first half, head coach Erez Belfer's lads produced three second-half goals from Amit Glezer, Yam Ben Yehuda and Eyal Chen, all scored in the first fifteen minutes. The win lifted them into second place in their league table.

Coaches Ori David and Aviv Rein's Under-14 Team South made it three wins in their first three league outings, beating Hapoel Rishon 0-2 away. Ido Shahar and Tal Binyamin Yagudaev scored the goals. The Under-14 Team North also shared in the success of the Youth Division's weekend with a 1-4 victory at Nesher FC. Yehonatan Izen scored a brace, Dan Lugasi and Asaf Hershko added the other two. The Under-13 Team South drew 1-1 at home with Section Nes Tziona and the Under-13 Team North were the only Maccabi Youth division team to lose on Saturday, succumbing to Hapoel Rishon Lezion 4-1 at "Superland".

Maccabi's Youth Division enjoyed an exceptional Saturday with six wins, one draw ...

Lot's of action this Saturday as four Youth Division teams host at Kiryat Shalom

After losing last week for the first time this season, Maccabi's Under-19s will try to return to winning ways as they return to Kiryat Shalom training ground to host Hapoel Beer Sheva at 11.30am. So far head coach Ziv Arie's lads have taken 19 of their first 24 points but will go into the match trailing the national U19 Premier League leaders Maccabi Haifa by two points. Three other Youth Division teams will be hosting at Kiryat Shalom on Saturday, among them the Under-17 Premier League leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", who will welcome Hapoel Kiryat Shmona at 10.20am on the artificial pitch. Another Maccabi Youth Division team leading their league are the Under-16s, who will be out to maintain their perfect season record when they host Ashdod FC on the same artificial pitch at 8.30am. Third up on the artificial pitch will be the club's Under-15s Team 1, who take on Ironi Modi'in at noon. The Under-15 Team 2 will be on the road on Saturday, facing Maccabi Herzliya at 10.45am.

Most of the younger Youth Division teams going into matchweek 3 will be playing away this Saturday. The Under-14 Team North head north to Tirat Hacarmel to tackle Nesher FC at 2.30pm. The Under-14 Team South and the Under-13 Team North will both be playing at the "Superland" sports complex, at 8.45 and 9am respectively, to play their counterparts from Hapoel Rishon Lezion. The Under-13 Team South round off this Saturday's slate of Youth Division fixtures when they host Section Nes Tziona on Kiryat Shalom's artificial pitch  at 1.45pm.

Lot's of action this Saturday as four Youth Division teams host at ...

Yesterday all but one of Maccabi's younger Youth Division teams advanced to the next round of their State Cup competitions. The U13 Team North play today

With the exception of the Under-19s, who were engaged in league duties, and the Under-17's and 16's who had the weekend off, all the remaining Maccabi Youth Division teams played State Cup fixtures this weekend. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", the club's Under-15 Team 1, easily reached round three of their competition with a 6-1 victory over Maccabi Barkai. Adir Hardon and Tal Daon both scored braces, Amit Mordechaev and Rotem Ziv contributed individual goals. Team 2 also reached the third round with an impressive 0-5 away win at Hapoel Ramat Gan.

For Maccabi's younger Youth Division teams, Saturday was the first round of their respective State Cup competitions. Head coach Ori David's Under-14 Team South handily beat Hapoel Bat Yam 5-0 to advance to round two. Gil Ben Shlush scored a hat-trick while Tal Yagudaev and Tschager Dan provided the other two goals. Joining them in round two are Team North, who breezed past opponents Hapoel Marmorek 8-0. Yonatan Izen, Dan Lugasi and Ofir Schayek all scored twice, Asaf Hershko and Yarin Bazar brought the team total to eight with individual efforts.

Today Maccabi's Under-13 Team North will travel to Maccabi Yavne to complete the present slate of Youth Division State Cup encounters. Next Saturday all the division's teams will return to regular league duties.

Yesterday all but one of Maccabi's younger Youth Division teams advanced to ...

This weekend Maccabi's Youth Division teams return to league and Cup play

After a three-week break for most teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division will return to action this weekend. After six wins and a draw in their first seven matches, the Under-19's will attempt to hold on to the top spot in the national U19 Premier League when they set out for a tricky away tie against Beitar Jerusalem, currently ranked tenth, at their Bayit VeGan training ground. This is the league's matchweek 8 centrepiece fixture and will be broadcast live on Israel's sports channel 55 at noon on Saturday.

The club's Under-17s, the only Youth Division team to have played during the break, will have the week off, as will the Under-16s. The rest of the Youth Division teams will play National Cup matches at the weekend. The Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad', will host Maccabi Barkai on the artificial pitch of the Kiryat Shalom training ground at 10.30pm in round two of the U15 State Cup competition. Team 2 will also attempt to get to the third round at the expense of Hapoel Ramat Gan, who will host them at Tubruk at 12.30pm.

Maccabi's Under-14 Team North, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shlomo", will kick off their U14 National Cup campaign with an away tie at Hapoel Marmorek at 10.30am. Team South will also be on the road to face Hapoel Bat Yam at their local stadium at 4.30pm. The final Youth Division team to play this weekend are the Under-13 Team North, who on Sunday night at 6.30pm will kick off their U13 State Cup campaign playing away to Maccabi Yavne.  

This weekend Maccabi's Youth Division teams return to league and Cup play

The finals of the "Nike Israel" tournament ended in a loss for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad". The U15 Team 2 reached the semis

Maccabi Tel Aviv's two Under-15 Teams participated in the second and deciding stage of the "Nike Israel" tournament which took place yesterday in Ra'anana. The group stage of the tournament took place at the beginning of the season and yesterday the best eight teams came to Ra'anana to complete the tournament's quarter final, semi-final and final rounds. Winner of the tournament will participate in Nike's world-wide tournament to be held this year in Lubliana, Slovenia.  Tournament matches lasted 40 minutes, with teams switching sides after 20 minutes.

Both Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-15 teams won their quarter final matches after penalty shootouts, with Team 1, "Eldad", beating Ashdod FC and Team 2 defeating Maccabi Netanya. This set up a derby in the semis, which finished in a 1-1 draw after 40 minutes courtesy of goals from "Eldad"'s Roy Ronen and Team 2's Or Dasa. In the second penalty shoot-out for both Under-15 teams it was "Eldad"'s goalkeeper Ofek Alfasi who had the upper hand, sending his side into the finals. There, unfortunately, "Eldad"'s luck ran out, as they conceded a goal to Maccabi Haifa five minutes from time and lost 1-0 to finish a very worthy second.

Pictures courtesy of the Koko-Nike Company Israel

The finals of the "Nike Israel" tournament ended in a loss for ...