Peretz voted as KOPELL GROUP Player of The Month

Niv Berkovic extended his contract at Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Youth Academy midfielder who played last season for the Youth Team and featured for Israel’s U-18’s, extended his contract at the club

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”.

Niv Berkovic, 17,  who played for the Youth team ...

New age group starts preparing for next season

MTA's Youth Academy has begun its preparations for next season and youngsters born in 2013, who had previously trained at the club's schools, are being formed into a squad that will be part of the academy

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy convened a group of players on Monday that will be the squad to play in the under-18 age group division next season. The boys, born in 2013, who will compete in the youngest of the Academy’s three youth teams.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy convened a group of ...

We have missed our training says Omer Itzhaki

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy has returned to a full training schedule and the coaching staff and the players are pleased to be back at Kiryat Shalom, youth team players Omer Itzhaki and Nadav Nidam have told us

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.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy is back to a ...

Academy back in full action as girls resume training

Following the youth and older boys who returned to action last week, MTA's girls teams resumed training this week alongside the younger boys' age groups, signalling the Academy's full return to action

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy returned to full action this week as the girls’ team and the boys’ younger age groups resumed training, while always keeping Health Ministry directives in mind.

The girls are continuing to progress and build in their inaugural season in which three age group teams have been established. The two older teams have been involved in official league action, while the youngest group have played in tournaments and training matches.

The female academy is being run under the guidance of Academy Performance Director Patrick Van Leeuwen and the teams are managed by Dana Nissenbaum, who oversees a group of coaches aiming to nurture the next generation of female players in the best possible conditions.

The Academy is always looking for more girls to grow the Maccabi family and anybody interested in joining should call Dana on 0506-300890.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy returned to full action this ...

Youth Academy sets up international ties

After establishing connections with several clubs throughout Israel, the MTA Youth Academy has spread its wings all the way to Australia and has linked up with Maccabi FC Caulfield of Melbourne

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.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy has set up ties with ...

Maccabi on track in 3-1 practice match win over Ra’anana

With two weeks to go to the restart of the TASE Premier League campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv notched a 3-1 practice match win over Hapoel Ra'anana at Kiryat Shalom on Saturday and instilled more confidence for the title run-in

Maccabi Tel Aviv chalked up an important 3-1 practice match win over Hapoel Ra’anana at Kiryat Shalom in searing conditions on Saturday and gave themselves a confidence boost after a layoff of over six weeks as they prepare for the restart of the Premier League at the end of the month.

Both teams used 12 substitutes each and none of the players played for the entire 90 minutes, allowing them plenty of recovery time as the teams gear up for the closing phase of the season.

Itay Shechter put Maccabi ahead in the seventh minute after pouncing on a rebounding ball after Ra’anana goalkeeper Niv Antman kept out a shot by Andre Geraldes.

The visitors’ Or Dasa levelled the scores in the 35th minute but Shechter added his second goal in the 41st minute after a series of passes saw Avi Rikan put him clear in front of goal and the Maccabi striker was left to slot home.

Nick Blackman, who substituted Shechter in the second half, sealed the result in the 79th minute with a left-footed strike after a good assist by substitute Parfait Guiagon, the under-19 team’s Ivory Coast striker.

Maccabi’s first match in the playoff phase of the Premier League will be against Hapoel Haifa at home on May 30. With all 26 matches in the first two phases of the league completed, Maccabi lead the table with 64 points, six ahead of second-placed Maccabi Haifa, who appear to be their only realistic title challengers. Beitar Jerusalem are third in the standings on 49 points.

Ra’anana are playing in the lower-section playoffs and will not face Maccabi again this season.

Starting lineups:

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Daniel Tenenbaum (Andreas Gianniotis, 46), Andre Geraldes (Itay Ben Hemo, 62), Jair Amador (Sheran Yeini, 46), Shahar Piven (Omer Itzhak, 75), Enric Saborit (Ophir Davidzada, 46), Dan Glazer (Dor Peretz, 46), Avi Rikan (Ruslan Barsky, 46), Dor Micha (Eyal Golasa, 46, Parfait Guiagon, 75), Omer Atzili (Matan Hozez, 46), Yonatan Cohen (Eylon Almog, 46), Itay Shechter (Nick Blackman, 46).

Hapoel Ra’anana: Niv Antman (Assaf Tzur, 46), Daryl Lahman (Adi Nimni, 46), Ido Levy (David Mattheus, 46), Amit Cohen (Shon Klimkin, 46), Yarden Cohen (Roey Herman, 46), Itay Katzav (Ben Binyamin, 46), Snir Shuker (Ben Savir, 46), Diwan Naeh (Ido Ben Yosef, 46, Golan Benny 68), Roey Levy (Lior Berkovitz, 46), Or Dasa (Eugene Ansa, 46), Idan Shemesh (Vitali Ganon, 46).

Maccabi Tel Aviv chalked up an important 3-1 practice match ...

Maccabi Youth Academy resumes training

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Academy reopens training at Kiryat Shalom with the under-19s to under-15s the first to get back into action after the two-month shut down

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.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy ended its two-month shut ...

Maccabi youth focusing on mental strength

During the lockdown, MTA's Youth Academy players are spending much of their time at home. We spoke to mental coach Merav Levy who explained the methods being used to overcome the current challenging period

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy is still adhering to lockdown restrictions and activities are yet to return to some kind of normality, which means that the players must train at home. We spoke to the department’s mental coach, Merav Levy, who gave us a few tips how to maintain a good outlook and a good state of mind ahead of the much-hoped-for return to a state of normality.

“It’s important to manage our energy levels and our mood, to stay positive and stay connected to ourselves in actions, enthusiasm and daring, to confront what is in front of us and be prepared to be flexible.

“Uncertainty during the current time, and the thought that matters are not necessarily under our control is a regular situation for footballers so it’s important to develop mental toughness to be able to get over this uncertain period. Mental strength is a set of tools that allow players to utilise their skills at the best of their abilities despite the challenges. It’s what is required for matches and it is particularly useful during the current coronavirus period.

“The ability to identify opportunities to develop when we understand that these are uncertain times is how we can develop players’ mental strength so that they can make the most of the restricting conditions.

“One example was shown by a Spanish athlete, who covered a distance of 61km in his four-metre-long living room by running for 10 hours. Anything is possible with imagination, thought, determination, positive energy and a will to work.

“Mental strength is not acquired at home in front of a computer, it can only be achieved outdoors, on the pitch in training with a specific target in mind. Those abilities need to be honed constantly and cannot be allowed to lapse so we need to be ready for the future now and that means players must be ready to return to action after having had the best preparation possible. We cannot wait for the current situation to pass in order to advance our skills.

“Players must maximise their ability to control a situation. We don’t know when things will return to normal but we do know that in the meantime we can create a new regimen and a new plan that will include all the important aspects for a player to develop. Only when a player feels in control and has confidence, can he be proactive and become effective. This crisis will pass, but our mental strength and our attitude must remain in focus and this is a good time to develop new tools, skills and habits.

“Each player has been asked to write down daily targets and create a routine for regular work, shed negative thoughts and concentrate on training targets to help them improve in all aspects.

“They must train to the best of their abilities to get the feeling that they have worked effectively and have succeeded in fulfilling their set tasks.

“A successful session will give players a feeling of optimism and success that the crisis will pass and that they have been able to maintain their best level of physical and mental fitness.” 

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy is still adhering to lockdown ...

Homework 5: Technical moves for the Youth Academy

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy has produced videos with training skills for the players to be able to practice while the remain at home during the coronavirus lockdown. Watch the 5th video here

Football Network project continues via Zoom

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Academy is continuing its cooperation project with other clubs throughout the country and has held the first of three online meetings to share information and views

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy is maintaining contacts with other clubs throughout the country and on Thursday it held the first of three meetings as part of the football cooperation project when Ori David, the coach of U17, shared information about the clubs approach and coaching methods for the older age groups.

The meeting was held with the aid of the Zoom app and it included participants from Maccabi Barkai, Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan, Hapoel Herzliya, Ironi Or Yehuda, Holon FC, Maccabi Kiryat Yam, Hapoel Deir Hana, Maccabi Deir al-Assad, Ironi B’aineh, Umm al-Fahm and Maccabi Amishav Patt.

The project has been overseen by Ran Elias, the Academy’s head of scouting, under the auspices of performance director, Patrick Van Leeuwen.

“After several previous meetings during the season, over the coming week we will hold a three-part seminar as part of our cooperation project. We have just held our first meeting, in which Ori David outlined the Academy’s philosophy. On Monday, there will be an a second session discussing technique and on Thursday, we will examine goalkeeping. We want to continue to share our knowledge with other clubs despite the current restrictions and we want to continue to share information on players and other matters. We hope to broaden the project and hope that other clubs will join in,” Elias said.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy is maintaining contacts with other ...