Under-15’s Win Super Cup

The league has ended and the cups have been awarded, however, the youth department is still collecting titles, this time in a special match between Maccabi’s two Under-15 teams

The youth leagues have ended and the Cups have been raised, but the various Maccabi Tel Aviv youth sides are still busy battling for titles. This past Saturday, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs”, Maccabi “Eldad” and Maccabi’s second Under-15 team all participated in a Super Cup tournament.

While the Under-19 and Under-17 clubs play in the top leagues for their age groups, the younger teams are split into various areas of the country. The winners of each area plus the Cup winner came together to participate in the competition which saw the Under-15 sides split up into two groups of four teams play at the American School in Even Yehuda.

Both of Maccabi’s Under-15 clubs under the direction of Ran Elias and Amri Sofer had one goal in mind at the start of the day, to play each other in the final. Ran Elias saw his team defeat Kirayt Shemona 7:0 but then fall to Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:3 making the final group stage match against Hapoel Tel Aviv the deciding game. Lo and behold, Maccabi took down the Reds 2:0 and advanced to the final from their group.

Amir Sofer’s side also won two group matches, against Hapoel Hadera 4:1 and S.C. Tribe 7:0 while drawing 3:3 versus Maccabi Petach Tikva also seining them to the Super Cup Title match.

After a tight goalless contest which saw some fantastic chances and saves by the keepers the match went to penalties and was won by Ran Elias’s team.

“It was a strange match,” Elias said. “But it was fun and I’m proud that both my team and Amir Sofer’s met in the final.”

Elias continued: “Next season the players will join forces on one club and there are many players that know that they won’t continue on. It’s not easy for them to stay mentally focussed and their are players who have been with the Club for six seasons and out of 60 players only 20 will remain. We looked at this competition as a big challenge and it’s not so simple to get the results we did from these two teams. We found out who the two best sides were and this was a good way for us to finish off the year.”

One could see how closely knit the two sides are: “The teams faced off against each other but once the last penalty went into the goal we were one team once again. Even when the penalties were taking place the players were standing as one. It’s really amazing how tight these two groups are. Even the warmups before the match the two sides were together. At the end of the day Maccabi was the big winner and we can all be proud of guys.”

Under-16

Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer’s club made it all the way to the final where they met Maccabi Haifa but couldn’t get past the Greens as they finished the tournament in second place.

The youth leagues have ended and the Cups have been raised, but ...

Maccabi Tel Aviv falls 1:0 in State Cup Final

Maccabi Tel Aviv faced Maccabi Haifa in the Israel State Cup Final at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem in front of over 30K fans

Haifa found the back of the goal in the first half to take home the State Cup title as Hen Ezra scored the lone marker of the contest.

Head Coach Peter Bosz made only one change in his Starting XI from Saturday night’s 6:0 league victory is really the same Haifa team as Haris Medunjanin replaced Eliel Peretz in the midfield. Medunjanin was joined by Gal Alberman and Nosa Igiebor while a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Carlos Garcia and Avi Rikan played just behind them. Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Captain Eran Zahavi provided the offense up front while Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic took his usual place in goal.

The match opened up as a pretty physical affair for the first 20 minutes as each side collected foils aplenty with only one chance which occurred in the 10th minute as Eyal Meshumar almost scored an own goal. In the 22nd minute Ben Chaim took a wonderful ball on the left side of the box but his effort went wide right of the goal.

Just a minute later, Shoval Gozlan received a deep ball that beat the Maccabi defense but his opportunity went over Rajikovic’s goal as the action began heating up in both sides of the pitch. Tens minutes later, Zahavi had his first chance of the evening but his attempt went over the goal after the whole team got in on the act. Ben Chaim began the play, sent the ball to Micha who handed it off to Rikan and then to the Captain who put it over the bar.

However, the Greens got onto the board first as Hen Ezra put home a Ludovic Obraniak free kick to give Haifa a 1:0 lead. Micha gave Zahavi a chance to even it up in the 40th minute but his unbelievable header effort was saved midair on the line by Haifa keep Vladimir Stoykovich to keep his clean sheet intact as the sides headed into the break with Haifa clinging onto a one goal lead.

Maccabi had fantastic chance to begin the second half as Zahavi sent a ball through the Haifa box but found no one home to take advantage. Medunjanin had his scorcher stopped by Stoykovich in the 48th minute as the Yellow & Blue threw everything they had at the Greens trying to find the equalizer in the early going of half number two.

Igiebor had a brilliant opportunity to score in the 57th minute but couldn’t handle Rikan’s pinpoint pass as his effort went out. With Maccabi maintaining possession it was Ezra of Haifa in the 70th minute who had a chance to double his side’s score but his screamer went wide right of the goal.

A minute later Peter Bosz made him first substitute of the match inserting Eliel Peretz in favor of Alberman. Ben Chaim’s 75th minute curler couldn’t find the back of the goal as the Maccabi faithful continued cheering their heroes on while Bosz made his second substitute introducing Barak Itzhaki for Igiebor.

With seven minutes until full time, Maccabi made their third and final substitute of the match brining in Eden Ben Basat for Garcia. However, it wouldn’t be enough on this night as Haifa wrapped up the 1:0 win and took home the Israel State Cup.

Haifa found the back of the goal in the first half to ...

Memorial match for Shachar Brickman ZT”L

Since Shachar's passing, a memorial match has been held each year at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility between the Under-19 team named for him and Bnei Yehuda

The annual memorial match for Shachar Brickman ZT”L was held this evening at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility as his family, including former Maccabi Tel Aviv Chairman Gideon Brickman, his wife Shosh along with the rest of the family attended. The Under-19 club named for Shachar played against their Bnei Yehuda counterparts while Youth Department Director Nir Levin, Administrative Manager Guy Zuckerman and former players, Avi Nimni, Vicki Peretz and Gady Brumer looked on.

Gideon Brickman spoke following the young Yellow & Blue’s 2:0 victory and said: “We want to thank Maccabi Tel Aviv and Mitch Goldhar for allowing us to be part of the Maccabi Tel Aviv family and its youth department.”

Shachar was a true fan and always tried to attend each and every match. He passed away after a three year battle with cancer at the age of 38 leaving behind his only daughter Roni.

The annual memorial match for Shachar Brickman ZT”L was held this evening ...

Maccabi “Shachar” Defeats Bnei Yehuda 3:1

Ziv Arie’s charges won their final match of the 2015/16 Youth season as they defeated Bnei Yehuda on goals by Eden Kartzev, Eylon Almog and Or Dasa who added two assists

The last Matchday of 2015/16 saw Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv take on their city rivals Bnei Yehuda at the Ramle Stadium as Ziv Arie’s side looked to end the year on a high note. The team began the match with the same lineup as last game but gave Moshe Peleg his first start after being calle up from the Under-17 squad.

Prior to kickoff, the club honored some of the players from the 1996 class who would be leaving the Youth Department and moving on including Eliel Peretz, Idan Yogev, Guy Aviv and Shaked Azulay. The players were presented flowers by the club in recognition of their service.

In the 13th minute Tomer Altman began a nice play by chipping the ball into the box right to Eden Kartzev, but his weak chance was saved by the keeper. The Yellow & Blue continued pressuring the Bnei Yehuda goal and their efforts were rewarded with a 21st minute goal. Or Dasa handed Kartzev an intelligent pass who shot right towards the heart of the goal with all of his might for a 1:0 Maccabi lead.

Maccabi continued pressing the Bnei Yehuda defense as Dasa again featured in creating the second goal of the match passing the ball to Almog who pounded the ball behind the Bnei Yehuda keeper good for a 2:0 advantage in the 29th minute.

Shay Golan, Tomer Altman and Eylon Almog all had a chance to increase the lead before the break but the trio couldn’t find the back of the Bnei Yehuda goal.

Coach Ziv Arie made a pair of substitutions to open the second half as Mahmoud Awesat and Ran Vaturi were introduced in favor of Dov Amran and Eylon Almog. Just five minutes after the break Or Dasa went one on one with the Bnei Yehuda keeper and added a goal to his two assists to make the match 3:0 in favor of Maccabi. Shay Konstantin took goal back for the visitors but t was too little too late as the Under-19 side collected the three points to end their campaign that included a trip to the Champions League Youth League.

The last Matchday of 2015/16 saw Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv take on ...

ORI UZAN APPOINTED AS YOUTH TEAM COACH

Ori Uzan will coach Maccabi’s Youth team Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Schahar’ as of next season and will replace Ziv Ariye after three years in the job

 

Ori Uzan will coach Maccabi’s Youth team Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Schahar’ as of next season and will replace Ziv Ariye after three years in the job

Uzan (37) joined Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Department last season after holding positions as Assistant Coach at the senior teams of Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Petah Tikva and guided the U-17’s to the league championship.

The club said: “We would like to thank Ziv Ariye for the three seasons in which he guided Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Schahar’ to win the championship and was the first coach to guide an Israeli side in UEFA’s Youth Champions league. We wish Ori Uzan success in his new role”.

 

Ori Uzan will coach Maccabi’s Youth team Maccabi Tel Aviv ...

Under-16 Israel National Team in Bannikov Tournament Final

The Under-16 National Team with the help of four Maccabi Tel Aviv youth players advanced to the final against Georgia on Sunday

Alon Hazan’s Under-16 side traveled to the Bannikov Tournament in the Ukraine earlier this past week to take part in the competition named for former USSR keeper Victor Bannikov. Maccabi sent four representatives to compete with the Israel National Team in the tourney that began back in 2002 including Eden Kartzev, Sa’ar Berami, Tomer Mahlof, and Tomer Strosberg.

The club got off to a good start defeating Serbia 2:0 on the help of a Kartzev goal while the Blue & White lost their second match against the hosts where Kartzev also scored for Israel.

Bulgaria was Israel’s third opponent as Sa’ar Berami led the Blue & White by scoring one of the goals in a 3:0 win that helped the Under-16 side advance to the final where they will play Georgia on Sunday.

Alon Hazan’s Under-16 side traveled to the Bannikov Tournament in the Ukraine ...

Maccabi “Oded” wins the title

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Department kept rolling along on Saturday as the Under-17 club joined the Under 16 & 15 sides by winning its league title

The Yellow & Blue Youth Department continues to bear fruit due to their hard work all year long as the Under-17 side won their league championship joining the Under-16 & 15 teams in lifting their respective trophies. On Saturday, Ori Uzan’s team won their title even before they played their match.

Maccabi “Oded” visited Maccabi Netanya and lost but nonetheless won their league prior to even stepping foot on the pitch. Uzan spoke to the Official Website following their match: “It’s of course a very exciting moment and we went through a not so simple year. At the beginning of the year Eylon Almog was promoted to the Under-19 side and we were still able to start the season winning 14 of 15 games. Other players advanced as well through the ranks and we handled the situation very well considering we put together an almost brand new club.”

On how his players improved over the course of the year:

“The kids really had a magnificent year. We knew how to come and win every single big match we had be it a Derby or against Haifa. They improved tremendously as a team and two players who originally weren’t on the National Team were called up to be part of the side and that’s very important for us.”

His personal feelings about the end of the campaign:

“This was definitely the most exciting year I’ve had for sure. I came here after coaching for Ligat Ha’Al clubs and it was an adjustment that took a bit of time but I’m very happy that I was able to do this. At this age level, the feedback and the player’s learning curve is something that you won’t see anywhere else. I was able to reach my goals this season and I’ve already set my sights even higher for the next campaign. At the end of the day I’m happy that I accepted Nir’s (Levin) offer to join the Youth Department. I had a pleasure to work with and learn from him.”

The Yellow & Blue Youth Department continues to bear fruit due to ...

Know your history: Oz Tzemach & Eldad Regev ZT”L

The Youth Department players and coaches learned about Oz Tzemach and Eldad Regev TZ"L and why their teams are named after them

Many of the Youth Department teams are named after a particular person due to who they were. Usually they are named after former players, however at Maccabi Tel Aviv two of the teams are named for soldiers who fell in the line of duty defending Israel. One of the Under-15 club’s is named after Eldad Regev and the Under-12 South side is named for Oz Tzemach.

Last night before they laced up their boots and headed out to the pitch for a training session, the two teams had an educational program where they learned about these two people and why the club’s they play on are named after them.

Coaches Amir Sofer of the Under-15 side and Kfir Alfonte from the Under-12 South team showed the players pictures of the two fallen soldiers and spoke about their connection to Maccabi along with describing the core values that they can take from these two heroes who lost their lives for the country that they loved.

 

Many of the Youth Department teams are named after a particular person ...

Yom Hazikaron: Day of Remembrance at the Youth Department

The annual ceremony took place at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility with players from the Youth Department along with the family of Ilan Sviatkovsky ZT"L, a fan of the club who fell in 2010

The Youth Department held their annual Yom Hazikaron Ceremony on what is undoubtedly the toughest day for the whole country. The players from the Youth Department and Club personnel along with their families took part in the observance.

Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted the family of Ilan Sviatkovsky ZT”L, a fan of the club who was killed in 2010 in an exchange of fire with terrorists who were planting explosives along the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. Ilan’s family honored us with their presence on this very difficult day.

They shall all be remembered.

The Youth Department held their annual Yom Hazikaron Ceremony on what is ...

Yellow-and-Blue Saturday – Match Results May 7, 2016

The Under-19 team disappointed in the Derby, the Under-17 side closed in on their league title and all of the rest of the Youth Department results are inside

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 2:3 Hapoel Tel Aviv

Plenty of goals at the Ramle Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw the young Yellow-and-Blue fall in the Derby against Hapoel. For the full match report CLICK HERE

Hapoel Raanana 0:4 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv

Ori Uzan and his charges moved closer to capturing the league championship after defeating Raanana 4:0 away. Sa’ar Berami scored a hat-trick while Afek Blass also found the back of the home team’s goal as Maccabi “Oded” sit atop the table by 5 points with only 6 points left in the bank. Next week the Under-17 club will visit Netanya with one goal in mind; take home the title.

Maccabi Petach Tikva 1:0 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv

Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer’s Under-16 team won their league midweek with a few matches remaining; one of which was at their Petach Tikva counterpart. The Yellow-and-Blue were called for a penalty which ended up deciding the contest as they fell away 1:0.

SC Ashdod 1:0 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv

Maccabi “Team 2” Tel Aviv 1:0 Bnei Sakhnin

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 2:3 Hapoel Tel Aviv

Plenty of goals at the ...