Club statement: Žarko Lazetic

All of Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth teams returned from the break to win their state cup games

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s, ranked third in the league before entering a three-week league break, set out today for a Cup tie away against Shimshon Tel Aviv and successfully completed the first round of the Under-17 State Cup competition with a 0-7 rout of their hosts, who are currently placed bottom of the national Under-17 Premier League.  Guy Aviv continued to demonstrate his good form this season, adding two goals to the six he has already scored in the league.  Suheil Armeli, who has four goals in the first two games of the season, came back to score against Shimshon Tel Aviv, netting the first goal of the game. Yossi Solelich and Rotem Sharon scored their debut goals this season and Matan Hozez and Eliel Peretz added goals of their own, settling the final score at 0-7. 

Next week, Youth A will return from the league, directly to an intriguing encounter against the chart leading HaPoel Ra'anana, where the difference between the teams is just one point.  Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth B (U16) also completed their first round successfully, beating Maccabi Yehud 9-0 at Kiryat Shalom.  Raz Itzhak was the prominent player of the game, with a foursome taking his total record to 10 goals this season.

The cup victory was the fourth consecutive win for Youth B, who will try to keep up their good performance as they host Ironi Kiryat Gat next Saturday.  The two Youth C teams are also moving ahead in the national cup games.  Youth C2 achieved the same score as Youth B, 9-0, in an away game against F.C. Taibe Youth.  Youth C also played an away game in which they beat Sektzia Ness Ziona 5-1.  Maccabi Tel Aviv's children's team returned from hiatus directly to the league games.  Two Children A teams lost.  For Children A North, it was their first lost of the season, 0-1 to HaPoel Tel Aviv.  Children A South lost 0-2 to HaPoel Rishon LeZion.  Children B reported victories – Children B South beat Beitar Jerusalem 4-1 and Children B North beat Yaffo Youth 7-2.

All of Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth teams returned from the ...

A Fourth consecutive win for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s, a 2-1 victory that sees them replace HaPoel Ra'anana at the top of the table

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s played an away game, but the centre pitch at Kiryat Shalom training ground hosted an equally intriguing top level match.  The club's Under-17s hosted Hapoel Ra'anana for a game between the table's first and third-placed sides, with only one point separating the two.  Maccabi went into the game after three consecutive wins, hoping to harvest three additional points that would see them rise above the visitors in the Under-17 League table.

The first half was controlled by Maccabi, which had opportunities marked by quick attacking play from the flanks. Defender Guy Aviv and midfielder Matan Hozaz created opportunities for forward Jonathan Cohen and tried to score themselves, but they were unable to pass Ra'anana's goalkeeper.  But just five minutes into the game, Guy Peretz moved in from the left and shot with his left foot past the Ra'anana goalkeeper to give Maccabi the lead.

The advantage held for only two minutes, when Hapoel Ra'anana drew level at 1-1.  Ariel Hadar received a long ball and beat Omri Glazer in Maccabi Tel Aviv's goal.  But Maccabi did not back down and continued to attack until they regained the advantage.  Ziv Arie's players could have improved the score on several occasions, but the score eventually remained the same, 2-1, and Maccabi recorded another league victory.

A Fourth consecutive win for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s, a 2-1 victory ...

ARIEL AVRAM

Ariel Avram is the Youth Division general manager. A commercial and sports lawyer by trade, Avram played in the club's Youth Division and after several years away rejoined the club in 2007. Avram served first as assistant general manager and then as the club's website editor and media officer. Before taking his position in the Youth Division, Avram worked closely with owner Mitch Goldhar and his representative in Israel Jack Angelides. Early in 2011 he took up his current position at the Youth Division.

ARIEL AVRAM

Ariel Avram is the Youth Division general manager. A ...

No wonder it's all smiles at the MTA Youth Division. No less than 12 trophies in the 2013/14 season. And that's not all . . .

Another successful season has come to a close at the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, with a trophy cabinet bulging with reminders of the achievements of the various Youth Division teams. Eleven titles in all – three league championships, six prestigious State Cups, one "Super Cup" trophy and the winners' trophy at this year's "Nike Israel" tournament.

The Division's first silverware came at the very start of the season when the Under-19s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", won the Under-19 Premier League "Super Cup" after beating last season's double winners Maccabi Haifa 3-1. In the league itself, head coach Ziv Arie's charges finished second, just two points behind winners Maccabi Haifa. Nonetheless, Maccabi's Under-19s finished the season level with the leaders in league victories (18) and fewest goals conceded (27). As for total number of goals scored, "Shachar" led the league with 60 but unfortunately still fell short of returning the league trophy to the Division, where it last stood after the 2011/12 season. Another achievement for the Division's flagship side was seeing their promising young striker, Dor Jan, take his first steps in the senior squad in the final stages of their championship campaign after scoring eleven goals for the Under-19s.

The club's Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", won the prestigious U17 State Cup trophy and did it with panache. The U17 squad of head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon and his assistants Gadi Bromer  and Reviv Dakar comprehensively beat Maccabi Haifa 4-0 in the final held at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan last month, with Daniel Rahimi, Raz Itzhak, Dor Galili and Ro'i Tzarum all getting on the scoresheet. In addition to Cup celebrations, the Under-17s also celebrated sending two of their numbers, Raz Itzhak and Rany Hamza, for try-outs with the Under-19 squad.

Maccabi's Under-16s were one of two Youth Division teams to complete an excellent season with a league and Cup double. The squad of head coach Erez Belfer and his assistants Haim Lanziano and Eitan Katz celebrated the first half of that double in April when they beat Beitar Tubruk 3-1 to capture the prestigious U16 State Cup. The double was completed early in May when a derby win against Hapoel Tel Aviv handed them the nationwide U16 League South title. And what an impressive title it was: Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" finished the league season leading their nearest rivals by 9 points, with 27 victories and just 3 losses. Even more impressive was their goalscoring record, 128 in all with a goal difference of 107! Outstanding goalscorer was Omer Lakou with 33 league goals and 41 in all competitions.

Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 may have finished the league only in third place but they too have something to be proud of. In March the team of head coach Shlomi Mitelka and his assistant Gil Meltzer won the "Nike Israel" tournament, held this year in Ra'anana, after beating Maccabi Netanya, Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi's own Under-15 team 2 and, in the final, Hapoel Rishon Lezion. In their own right, Team 2, under the tutelage of head coach Haim Siton and his assistant Haim Nimni, also won one of the Youth Division's six State Cup titles after beating Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in the final. They crowned their season 2013/14 achievements by winning an additional title, the Under-15 "Champion of Champions", held this year at the Tel Aviv suburb of Even Yehuda. Meanwhile the club's Under-14 Team South, guided by head coach Ayal Tzachi and his assistant Israel Kakon, won the U14 Central District League title with 77 points and an impressive goal difference of 83, having conceded just 12 goals all season.

The second of the Youth Division's clubs to capture a league and Cup double were the Under-13 Team South. The U13 State Cup was won early in April, when head coach Ori David's lads beat Maccabi Haifa 6-3 in the final. The battle for the league title was much tighter and was decided only in the last matchweek of the season at the end of May. They went into the match ahead on goal difference and with their fate in their own hands. But a resounding 1-6 triumph at municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda guaranteed that Maccabi's Under-13s would also lift the U13 Central District league trophy to crown an outstanding season.

An additional State Cup trophy was won by Maccabi's Under-12 Team North, led by head coach Micha Dahan and his assistants Guy Shemesh and Yoav Izober, after a 6-3 triumph over Hapoel Rishon Lezion. The youngest Maccabi Youth Division team to win a title this season was the class of '04, the Under-10 Team South. In April, the youngsters of head coach Asaf Profeta and his assistant Eliran Mizrachi booked a resounding 9-1 victory in the U10 State Cup final against Maccabi Petach Tikva.  

No wonder it's all smiles at the MTA Youth Division. No less ...

A decisive week-end of matches is in store in the final week of the Youth Division's 2013/14 season

This week-end the last crop of MTA Youth Division matches of the 2013/14 season will be played, bringing with it contests that will decide the outcomes of a number of still open competitions. Up till now the Division can boast eight different titles and this Saturday three of the division's teams have the opportunity to drive that impressive number even higher. The Division's Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" have already captured their league and Cup double but on Saturday will continue their efforts to be crowned "Champion of Champions" among the top teams in the nation's premier U16 leagues. Head coach Erez Belfer's charges will visit Maccabi Haifa at their "Ketzef" playing field on Saturday at 11am, with the prospect of a victory raising hopes that their third title of the 2013/14 season may well be within their reach.  

Meanwhile Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-13 Team South will also be looking to add an additional title to their 2013/14 resume when they visit municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda at 9am on Saturday. A victory for head coach Ori David's lads would add the nationwide U13 Central District league title to this season's U13 State Cup trophy already proudly on display. Maccabi's Under-14 Team North have a more difficult task ahead of them as their fate is not entirely in their own hands. Head coach Arik Levi's lads go into the last match of the season trailing U14 Sharon District league leaders Maccabi Haifa only on goal difference so that even with a good result at Beitar Tubruk at 9am on Saturday, only good news from Haifa's game at Kfar Saba will hold out any hope of taking top honours.

Other matches in the MTA Youth Division:

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" (U17) at home to Maccabi Haifa (Thursday 4.30pm, Kiryat Shalom training ground)

Under-14 Team South at home to Bnei Yehuda (Saturday 9am, Kiryat Shalom)

Under-13 Team North at home to Hapoel Aliyah Kfar Saba (Saturday 9am, Kiryat Shalom, artificial grass pitch)

A decisive week-end of matches is in store in the ...

All the MTA Youth Teams made their traditional sprint around Bloomfield Stadium at the senior team's last match of the season

Another successful season for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division is coming to a close, with the number of team trophies already standing at eight. At halftime of last night's final first team match of the season against Bnei Sakhnin, the club continued their tradition of having all the Youth Division teams parade around Bloomfield Stadium, profiling all of the their outstanding achievements of the 2013/14 season. Trophy winning teams held their prizes high in the air while each group carried the Maccabi Tel Aviv flag to the enthusiastic reception of all those present.

Foremost among the teams was of course the flagship side of the Youth Division, the Under-19s, who this week-end finished off another fine season. Under the able guidance of head coach Ziv Arie and assistant coaches Gili Landau and Boaz Bracha, the Under-19s began the season by capturing the "Champion of Champions" trophy, which they held high during their stadium sprint, and finished the Under-19 Premier League season in the second spot, only two points off the pace.

The club's Under-17s were also present with their contribution to the Youth Division's trophy cabinet. The charges of head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon and assistant coaches Gadi Bromer and Reviv Dakar just last week captured the prestigious Under-17 State Cup by beating Maccabi Haifa by an emphatic 4-0. The Under-16s were the most decorated of the Youth Division teams in the parade, having already secured the league and Cup double. The youngsters, under the able stewardship of head coach Erez Belfer and assistant coaches Haim Lansiano and Eitan Katz, began their trophy drive at the end of April by winning the State Cup final against Beitar Tubruk. At the beginning of this month they completed their double when their defeat of municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv guaranteed them the nationwide Under-16 League South title.

Yesterday Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1, under the guidance of head coach Shlomi Mitelka and his assistant Gil Meltzer, finished their league season in the third spot but were not without a trophy, having won the "Nike Israel" tournament in March. During their run around the stadium the Under-15 Team 2, led by head coach Haim Siton and his assistant Haim Nimni, carried with them the State Cup trophy they won this season by defeating Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in the finals. Only this morning the Under-14 Team South, headed by Eyal Tzachi and his assistant Israel Kakon, were declared champions of the Under-14 Central District League and now proudly bore their trophy round Bloomfield Stadium. The Under-14 Team North, with Arik Levi in charge helped by Yotem Perry and Aviv Ryan, were also present as they complete a fine season themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYvrvE14AuI

Next in line were the Under-13 Team South, also proudly carrying their State Cup trophy aloft. With head coach Ori David and his assistant Kobi Ozer at the helm, the Under-13 Team South may also be the Youth Division's second team to capture a league and Cup double, leading as they do the Under-13 Central District League with just two games left to the season. They were followed by the Under-13 Team North, with head coach Adi Somech and assistant Alon Peleg in the lead. Also showcasing their State Cup trophies were the Under-12 Team North, with their head coach Micha Dahan and assistants Guy Shemesh and Yoav Izovar, and the Under-10 Team South, headed by Asaf Profeta and assistant Eliran Mizrahi.

Other Youth Division teams participating in the parade were the Under-12 Team South, with head coach Leon Asraf and assistant Liad Uzon, Under-11 Team South, with head coach Kfir Alfonta and assistant Idan Kazinitz, Under-11 Team North, with head coach Eliran Salman and assistant Ran Dor, and Under-10 Team North, with head coach Shay Levi and assistant Guy Shalom. 

All the MTA Youth Teams made their traditional sprint around ...

League and Cup double winners Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" keep hopes alive for an historic treble with a convincing 3-0 home win in the "Champion of Champions"

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" have experienced an excellent season, having already secured the U16 League South title and State Cup double. On Saturday they have the opportunity to add yet another jewel to their crown in the Under-16 "Champion of Champions" competition, which pits all the nation's top Under-16 clubs against one another.  In their second match of the competition yesterday, head coach Erez Belfer's charges beat 3-0 the team they defeated in last month's State Cup final, Beitar Tubruk.

Due to Maccabi's superior play and complete control of events on the pitch, the match was already settled by half time. Striker Abed Alsalam Salame opened the scoring after just twenty minutes, his tenth of the season in all competitions. Striker Roy Ronen, one of this season's outstanding goalscorers, doubled Maccabi's advantage just short of the half hour mark with his 25^th of the season.  Three minutes later that margin was already 3-0 after midfielder Guy Shetach scored his second goal in as many tournament matches.

"Eli Fuchs" held on to that advantage until the referee's final whistle, adding three points to the one they earned on Saturday after their 1-1 draw against Maccabi Netanya. That leaves them level on four points with Netanya and Maccabi Haifa, whom they will face in the tournament's last encounter this Saturday. Depending on results of other tournament matches, a victory there could mean that Erez Belfer's double winning Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" will also become the 2013/14 season Under-16 "Champion of Champions".  

MTA's U15 Team 2, already State Cup winners, are now also "Champion of Champions"

Yesterday Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-15 Team 2 won the U15 "Champion of Champions" tournament held at the American School in Even Yehuda. The competition, now in its seventh year honouring the late Israel Ben Dror, Maccabi Petach Tikva and Israel defender from 1948 to 1962, was held for the first time in a new format that saw all of the tournament's matches held on the same day. The six participating teams were divided into two groups of three teams playing matches of forty minutes each. The winners of the two groups then faced off in a final that determined the "Champion of Champions"

Maccabi's Under-15s won their first match against Maccabi Petach Tikva 2-0 courtesy of goals by Guy Dahan and Desalin Balacho. Next up were Hapoel Bnei I'billin and head coach Haim Siton's lads won their second consecutive match, this time by the far wider margin of 7-0. Seven different squad members shared in the victory: Yarden Shua, Prince Thomas, Desalin Balacho, Naor Cohen, Itay Shauli, Netanel Peretz and Roni Petrovsky. In their third group stage encounter Maccabi Tel Aviv maintained their perfect record by beating Maccabi Haifa 2-0 on goals by Guy Dahan and Desalin Balacho to finish top of their group and gain entrance to the final.

In that final their opponents were Maccabi Netanya, and after a goalless forty minutes, the fate of the tournament's champions was settled from the penalty spot. There, successful strikes once again by Guy Dahan and Desalin Balacho, and a save by keeper Yaniv Goldshtein, handed Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-15s a 2-1 edge and the title of "Champion of Champions". Desalin Balacho, who scored a total of four goals in as many matches, was designated the outstanding player of the tournament, while Yarden Shua's one goal and three assists were also a notable contribution to the Maccabi Tel Aviv triumph.

In other matches that were played yesterday in the Youth Division, the Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", beat municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda 1-4 away in their penultimate match of the season to secure the second spot in the national Under-17 Premier League. Maccabi opened the scoring in the first half courtesy of a goal by defender Yonatan Feldman. That advantage was trebled after the restart by Dor Galili and Omri Haramati before the home side got one back to make the score 1-3. But in the final minute Raz Itzhak added a fourth for the visitors to complete the rout.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" began their campaign in the Under-16 "Champion of Champions" with a home tie against Maccabi Netanya. Head coach Erez Belfer's lads jumped off to a 1-0 advantage courtesy of a goal by midfielder Guy Shetach, a lead that was defended courageously until the end of regulation time. Unfortunately the visitors managed to draw level in time added on leaving the Under-16s with just the single point.

Maccabi's Under-14s Team South, already champions of the nationwide U14 League Central District, added yet another victory in their penultimate match of the season by handily beating Gadna Tel Aviv 0-4 away.  Gal Porat scored a brace, Amit Mordehayev and  Adir Hardon added individual efforts. Meanwhile the championship decider in the nationwide U14 League Sharon District will have to wait until the last week of the season after both league leaders Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv Team North, trailing on goal difference alone, were victorious in Saturday's contests. Maccabi Tel Aviv won their encounter against Beitar Haifa 3-0.

The largest goal tally of the week-end was recorded by Maccabi's Under-13 Team South as they scored a whopping 13 goals to no response against Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle. If they win their match next week against municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda, they will have added the league title to their State Cup winning credentials to boast a 2013/14 season double. Team North won in a more modest fashion, beating Hapoel Petach Tikva 0-1 away.

MTA's U15 Team 2, already State Cup winners, are now also "Champion ...

MTA's U16s are poised to enter the "Champion of Champions", the U15s play in a special tournament of their own

After the Under-19s finished off their season last week, the remaining teams of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division will carry on with matches of their own this week-end. After claiming the prestigious State Cup this month, head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" will be looking to use the last two matches of the season to hold down the second spot in the national Under-17 Premier League table. This Saturday at 10.30am they'll play the first of those two matches away against municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda.

Also on Saturday League and Cup double winners Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" will start their run in the "Champion of Champions" tournament, where the top three teams in the nationwide North and South District Under-16 leagues will face off against one another to determine the national Under-16 champions. The first of three tests for head coach Erez Belfer's charges will be at home against Maccabi Netanya at 9am at the Kiryat Shalom training ground.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", the club's Under-15 Team 1, finished their season last Saturday but this week will play in a special tournament in honour of the late Yisrael Ben Dror, a former football player , teacher and educator who made a major contribution to Israeli sports and to youth education in Israel in general. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Israel Football Association, together with the Ben Dror family, are holding this tournament, which will be played at the American School in Even Yehuda starting on Saturday at 9am and will host Under-15 teams from Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Bnei I'billin, Ashdod FC, Maccabi Petach Tikva, Hapoel Beer Sheva, Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi London.

Head coach Arik Levi's Under-14 Team North trail Under-14 Sharon District League leaders Maccabi Haifa on goal difference alone and therefore play a crucial penultimate match on Saturday when they host Beitar Haifa on the centre pitch at Kiryat Shalom at 11am. Team South, who won the Central District title only last Saturday, will play away to Gadna Tel Aviv in a noontime kick-off. Under-13 team North will play away to Hapoel Petch Tikva at 10.30 while Team South will be looking to extend their run of good form and finish off an already successful season in style. Head coach Ori David's youngsters lead the Under-13 Central District table on goal difference and will play their penultimate match of the season against Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle on the artificial grass pitch at Kiryat Shalom at 10.15am with a view to maintaining their place at the top of the league.       

MTA's U16s are poised to enter the "Champion of Champions", ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israeli Premier League top goalscorer Eran Zahavi addressed the club's youth teams

Shortly before establishing himself as Maccabi Tel Aviv's top single-season goalscorer, star midfielder Eran Zahavi was given the unique opportunity of sharing some of his valuable experience with team members of the club's Youth Division. At a meeting held with the club's Under-17s, Under-16s and the two Under-15 squads, Zahavi talked to the youngsters about life as a professional football player. He began with a short journey through his footballing career and the path it took him on right up till the present moment. He also spoke with the young players about the mental strains players often undergo in real time out on the pitch and in moments of personal crisis. And of course, Eran answered questions about the subject the youngsters were interested in most of all, what a football player needs to do to reach the highest levels of football, of the kind Eran Zahavi himself has achieved throughout his career. And with that, he wished them all the very best of luck.   

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israeli Premier League top goalscorer Eran ...