Abu Farchi: “We are focusing on the next match and want to win as many matches as possible”

For Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s and 17s, this Saturday promises intriguing encounters against fellow pacesetters in their respective leagues, Maccabi Haifa

After two consecutive victories away from home, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will return home this Saturday to the Kiryat Shalom training ground for an intriguing encounter against the Under-19's of Maccabi Haifa for a match to be broadcast at 12pm on Israeli sports channel Sport 5. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", who trail leaders Maccabi Haifa in the national Under-17 Premier League in second place by two points, will also be seeing green this week-end, in their case away from home at Maccabi Haifa's Ketsef training complex at 11am. Maccabi "Eli Fuchs", current leaders of the nationwide Under-16 League South, will play away on Saturday to Maccabi Emek Hefer at Kibbutz Givat Haim at 10.15pm. Maccabi's two Under-15 teams will part ways on Saturday: "Eldad" will host Beitar Jerusalem on the synthetic pitch at Kiryat Shalom at 8.30am while Team 2 head north to Kfar Blum to play Hapoel Kiryat Shmona at 10.30am.

Among Maccabi's younger competitors, the two Under-14 teams will also be hosting counterparts from Haifa this Saturday. Team South welcome Maccabi Haifa at 10.15am and Team North play Hapoel Haifa at 10.30am. The Under-13 Team North will visit Hapoel Ra'anana at 10.45pm and Team South remain at Kiryat Shalom to host Beitar Jerusalem at 8.30am.

For Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s and 17s, this Saturday promises ...

Another successful week-end for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division teams

In addition to the Under-19s handsome 0-4 victory against Hapoel Ra'anana, the remaining teams in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division recorded good results in the last week of play in the month of January. From the Under-15s on upward, all the matches were played at home at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, with the Under-17s finishing in a dramatic 2-2 draw against municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda. The first half ended goalless, leaving all the excitement for after the break. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" got on the scoreboard first, courtesy of a spot kick by Raz Yitzhak, but the visitors succeeded in turning the match around and until the dying moments of the match held on to a 1-2 lead, when Shai Ben David scored a dramatic equaliser for the home side. Maccabi's Under-16s hosted Hapoel Ramat Gan and their 3-1 victory means that after sixteen league matches played they stay top of the nationwide Under-16 League South table. After seeing their match last week against Amishav Petach Tikva postponed due to pitch conditions, Maccabi's Under-15 "Eldad" side returned to action with a decisive 4-1 win against Hapoel Jerusalem. The club's Under-15 Team 2 were also victorious, beating Beitar Haifa 3-0 for their second triumph over a Haifa team in the space of a few days, having earlier in the week played a game in hand and easily defeating Hapoel Haifa 6-1.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's younger competitors also enjoyed a successful week-end.  The Under-14 Team South defeated Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle 3-2, whilst Team North sailed past Kadima Tzoren FC 0-5. The club's Under-13 Team North edged past their counterparts from Maccabi Herzliya 2-1 and Team South were triumphant at Ironi Modi'im 2-4.    

Another successful week-end for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division teams

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s will begin their second round of Under-19 Premier League matches away at Hapoel Ra'anana, while the Under-15s to 17s will all play at home at the Kiryat Shalom training ground

On Saturday, the national Under-19 Premier League will begin its second round of league matches and Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be facing Hapoel Ra'anana away at 11.30am for a match that will not be televised. The club's Under-17 Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", who suffered their first league loss of the season last Saturday, will host Bnei Yehuda on the centre pitch at the Kiryat Shalom training ground at 8.30am. Two hours later, at 10.30am, the same pitch will be the scene of the match between the club's Under- 16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", and their counterparts from Hapoel Ramat Gan. The club's Under-15 Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" will take to the synthetic pitch at 8.30am to face Hapoel Jerusalem, where at noon the Under-15 Team 2 will play Beitar Haifa.

Other matches in the MTA Youth Division:

Maccabi Under-14 Team South – Beitar Tel Aviv, synthetic pitch, 10.20am

Maccabi Under-14 Team North – Kadima Tzoren, at Kadima, 10.30am

Maccabi Under-13 Team North – Maccabi Herzliya, Hadar Yosef playing field, 8.30am

Maccabi Under-13 Team South – Ironi Modi'in, at Modi'in, 8.30am

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s will begin their second round of Under-19 Premier ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-16s continued their run of good form with yet another home victory, the Under-15 Team 2 triumphed in a six-goal thriller

As Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s were recording their 1-2 league victory in Beer Sheva, the remainder of the club's Youth Division teams carried on with their league duties as well. In matchweek 12 of the Under-17 Premier League, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Maccabi Netanya, whose lone goal at the beginning of the second half handed them a 1-0 home victory. The Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", held on to the top spot in the Under-16 Nationwide League South table with a 0-2 victory against Maccabi Bat Yam, courtesy of  goals by Matan Cohen and Ittimar Shaviro.

The condition of the pitch led to Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad"'s Under-15 away match against Maccabi Amishav Petach Tikva being cancelled, but Team 2 came out on top of an exciting encounter away at Beitar Tubruk 2-4. Daslin Bellachau was once again on target for his sixteenth goal in all competitions, with Prince Thomas and Guy Dahan adding on to give the visitors a 1-3 lead early in the second half. Tubruk managed to pull one back before Yarden Sho'ah scored Maccabi's fourth to put the match to bed.

Maccabi's Under-14 Team South continued their run of good form with a 3-0 home win against Hapoel Kiryat Ono courtesy of goals from Leon Gardshuv, Adir Hardon and Amit Modechaiv. Team North were also triumphant, winning 0-1 away at Maccabi Petach Tikva thanks to a goal by Emile Edri. Maccabi's Under-13 Team South registered a comprehensive 7-0 home victory against Beitar Ma'ale Adumim at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, while Team North did much the same, winning 0-5 away at Nesher FC.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-16s continued their run of good form with yet ...

On Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be playing their last match in the first round of the national Under-19 Premier League fixtures. The Under-17s and 16s will look to maintain the top spot in their leagues

This Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s will be looking to recover from last week's disappointing loss to Maccabi Petach Tikva by closing off their first round of national Under-19 Premier League matches with an important away victory starting at 11am at Reiser Stadium against Hapoel Beer Sheva. The Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", will attempt to stay atop of the national Under-17 league table when they travel on Saturday to Shapira playing ground to play Maccabi Netanya at 3.30pm. Also leading their league, the club's Under-16s will host Ironi Bat Yam at 10.30am at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Both Under-15 teams will play away this Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" at Sirkin field at 10.30am against Maccabi Amishav Petach Tikva, and Team 2 at Beitar Tubruk at 9am.

Other matches:

Under-14 Team North – at Maccabi Petach Tikva, Moshava ground synthetic pitch, 2.30pm

Under-14 Team South – host Hapoel Kiryat Ono, Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch, 10.30am

Under-13 Team North – at Nesher FC, 8.30am

Under-13 Team South – host Beitar Ma'ale Adumim, Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch, 8.30am

On Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be playing their last match ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-16s climbed to the top of the nationwide Under-16 League South table after another successful week-end for the club's Youth Division

In the early kick-off at the centre pitch at Kiryat Shalom training ground, several hours before Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s faced off against Maccabi Petch Tikva, the two clubs' Under-17 sides opened this Saturday's activities in the Youth Division. Unlike their older counterparts, however, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" were triumphant, courtesy of a second-half brace by midfielder Omri Haramati that sealed a 2-0 victory. Head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's charges held on to their three point advantage over Maccabi Haifa at the top of the national Under-17 Premier League table, increasing their lead over third-placed Maccabi Petach Tikva to seven points.

Under the stewardship of head coach Erez Belfer, Maccabi's Under-16s have also climbed to the top of their league table, leapfrogging Saturday's opponent Hapoel Rishon Lezion after a 0-2 away win at Superland playing ground. The match stayed goalless till the dying moments when Maccabi's Abed Salame's dramatic goal just before time broke the deadlock, with Almog Eilon providing a second in time added on. The Under-15s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", were also triumphant, courtesy of a hat-trick by Guy Dahan that beat Sektzia Nes Tziona 3-0 at Kiryat Shalom. The Under-15s Team 2 also won at home, a persuasive 4-1 win over Bnei Yehuda, with Prince Thomas, Peleg Moshe, Daslin Blanchau and Georgy Darsilia (penalty) providing the goals.

Maccabi's Under-14 team South played on the road against fellow league pacesetters Hapoel Rishon Lezion and came away with a point after an Adir Hardon penalty kept them level in a 1-1 draw. Team North beat Maccabi Netanya 2-0 at Kiryat Shalom courtesy of goals by Arad Bar and Eyal Chen. The most convincing of all the Maccabi Youth Division wins fell to the Under-13 Team South who travelled south and cruised past Hapoel Beer Sheva 0-5. The Division's only loss this week-end occurred at the other end of the country where the Under-13 Team North lost 3-0 away to Maccabi Haifa.        

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-16s climbed to the top of the nationwide Under-16 ...

Saturday's matches in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division promise a number intriguing pacesetting fixtures

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s mid-week victory over Beitar Jerusalem kept the Under-19s in touch with the national Under-19 Premier league leaders, and this Saturday they'll have the opportunity to improve their position even farther. Now in the number four slot, "Shachar" will host third placed Maccabi Petach Tikva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground for a clash near the top of the table that will be broadcast at noon on Israel sports channel Sport 5. Kiryat Shalom's early kick-off at 8.30am will see an identical encounter, but then between the clubs' Under-17s. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" will be looking to maintain supremacy in the national Under-17 Premier League against their third placed adversaries from Petach Tikva. Another intriguing encounter will take place at 8.45am at the Superland West playing field between the club's Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", second in the nationwide Under-16 League South, and league leaders Hapoel Rishon Lezion. Both of the Maccabi's Under-15 teams will play at Kiryat Shalom this Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" against Sektzia Nes Tziona at 8.30am and Team 2 against Bnei Sakhnin at 12.30pm.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-14 Team South will also be facing top table opposition when they meet their counterparts from Hapoel Rishon Lezion at the Superland North playing field at 10am. Team North are at Kiryat Shalom at 10.30am to play Maccabi Netanya. The club's Under-13 teams are both facing long journeys this Saturday, Team South travelling to Reiser Field to face Hapoel Beer Sheva at 11am and Team North to the "Ketzef" training complex for a 9am kick-off against Maccabi Haifa.

Saturday's matches in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division promise a number intriguing ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s picked up another three points. The Under-15 Team 2 and the Under-13 Team South were also victorious

Along with the Under-19s, the rest of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division teams carried on with their league duties on Saturday. The Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", registered their ninth victory in ten Under-17 Premier League outings this season with a 1-4 away victory over Hapoel Rishon Lezion. Omer Lakau, who has already scored 22 goals for the Under-16s this season, scored his second for the Under-17s, with midfielders Tomer Altman and Eilon Yerushalmi and defender Bar Galili adding the other three. The Under-16's, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", suffered only their second defeat of the season, losing to second placed Maccabi Petach Tikva who now join them at the summit of the national Under-16 League South table. "Eli Fuchs" drew first blood with Ittimar Shaviro's tenth league goal of the season, but the hosts struck twice later on to overturn the deficit and win the match 2-1. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", the club's Under-15 Team 1, played away on Saturday at Ironi Modi'in and drew 1-1, with Neil Goldberg scoring the only Maccabi goal. Team 2 maintained their place three points off the pace with a game in hand in the national Under-15 League Sharon District by beating Kadima-Tzoran FC 0-4 away.

Maccabi's Under-14 Team South overwhelmed Hapoel Ramat Hasharon 7-0 at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, while Team North suffered their first defeat of the season 2-1 away to Maccabi Haifa. Maccabi's Under-13 Team South stayed top of the national Under-13 League Central District with a 2-4 away win against Hapoel Rishon Lezion West, as Team North, who play in the national Under-13 League Sharon District, drew 3-3 against Maccabi Netanya.  

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s picked up another three points. The ...

A total of nine of the Youth Division's outstanding players were guests of honour at the senior team's three home matches during the month of December

At every home match of the Maccabi Tel Aviv first team, three of the Youth Division's most outstanding young players are chosen to present the match ball to the referees just before the game. In December the senior squad played three such matches, providing nine of Maccabi Tel Aviv's promising young footballers with the honour of participating in this most cherished of ceremonies. The youngsters are selected for their performances over a period of time and according to criteria that include skills, achievements, behaviour and fair play, both on the pitch and in the classroom.

December's first home tie was against Hapoel Ra'anana, and youngsters from two Youth Division teams had the honour of presenting the match ball – Nadav Amram from the club's Under-16 side, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", and Yaron Kees and Roy Ma'ayan from Under-12 Team North, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo". "Leibo" also provided one of the stand-out youngsters, Niv Berkowitz, at December's Tel Aviv derby hosting Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was joined at the opening ceremony by Neil Goldberg of the Under-15s Team 1 and Guy Dahan of the Under-15s Team 2. At the last of the senior team's December home matches, Under-19 Raz Yitzhak, Under-12 South's Stav Nahmani and Under-11 North's Ranni Karev all shared in the privilege of presenting the ball to the referee before Maccabi Tel Aviv's encounter with Hapoel Acre.   

A total of nine of the Youth Division's outstanding players ...

After having competed last Saturday in State Cup ties, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division teams will be returning this week-end to their various league duties

After the disappointment of last Saturday's early exit from the Under-19 State Cup competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be keen to return to form this week-end when they turn their attention to league matters in matchweek 13 of the Under-19 Premier League. Head coach Ziv Arie's charges will head north to face Hapoel Haifa at their Kiryat Haim training ground for a match to be broadcast on Israeli sports channel Sport 5 at noon on Saturday. Maccabi's Under-19s can also look forward to a mid-week match next Tuesday at 2.30pm in the nation's capital against Beitar Jerusalem, a rescheduled matchweek 11 encounter that was postponed due to squad members' international commitments.  

Maccabi's Under-17s will be looking to maintain their perfect away form on Saturday when they play Hapoel Rishon Lezion at the local Superland training ground. At present leading the national Under-16 League South, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" will host their closest competitor, Maccabi Petach Tikva, for a battle of the league pacesetters at 11am at Kiryat Shalom training ground. The Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", will visit Ironi Modi'in at 8.30am, while Team 2 are scheduled for an away tie against Kadima Tzoran FC at 11am in Kadima. At exactly the same hour Maccabi's Under-14 Team South will face Hapoel Ramat Hasharon at Kiryat Shalom while Team North travel to Haifa for a top-of-table encounter at 10.15am against Maccabi Haifa at their youth division's "Ketzef" training ground. Both of Maccabi's Under-13 teams will be playing away this Saturday, Team North against Maccabi Netanya at 5.45pm and Team South at 11am against Hapoel Rishon Lezion. 

After having competed last Saturday in State Cup ties, Maccabi Tel Aviv's ...