Dasa: “I want to play an important part”

Maccabi "Shachar" Tel Aviv's Or Dasa talked about his development and also being part of the National Team: "My mom saw me signing Hatikva, there's nothing better than that"

This Saturday, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will play their Matchday 11 game at Hapoel Raanana in Toto League action. The young Yellow-and-Blue enter the match with not only a three game winning streak but they have also not given up any goals during this period.

One of Maccabi’s attacking players this season is Or Dasa, who had a chance to speak to the Official Website about the upcoming match, his personal goals and also the big jump the club made this year: “You can definitely say that this has been a huge transition from playing with the Under-17 side last year. Up until last season I had only played within the Maccabi youth leagues, I wasn’t part of the Israel National Team and all of a sudden here I am part of the National Team and of course playing in the youth league and also the Champions League Youth League.

To play against your age group in Europe is something totally different and a much higher level. There’s differences on the physical side, speed and technical aspects of the game and everything is much faster. On top of that you also have pressure from the media. People watched us on TV and checked out all of the highlights. I try not to deal with any of this so it doesn’t really bother me as my sole focus is just football.”

Thoughts about this Saturday’s match and having won three in a row:

“Things are starting to come together for us. We said that once we finish playing in the Champions League, we will be a lot better. I’m happy that this is exactly what has happened and especially that we haven’t given up any goals.”

Personal goals for this season:

“Firstly, I want to continue to mature and also improve my leadership skills. Before I began this season I set a goal for myself to play as much as possible in the league. Then when we made it into Europe, I wanted to play as much as I could in Europe and I’m happy that I was able to do that. Right now I want to play an important part with the team where I can lead my teammates. I’m working a lot with Noam our psychologist and also a lot of the changes that are happening begin in practice. For example, when we have games in practice that we need to win, I try to encourage my teammates and score the winning goal.”

Summing up the winter National Team tournament:

“I was so proud. My mom saw the first match and she saw me sing Hatikva, there’s nothing better than that. The transition between the National Team and club side is a different world. I tried to get to impress the coach and I hope that he will call me up again. It’s an experience that I hope will continue into the future.”

This Saturday, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will play their ...

Youth Department Action

Five away matches and an Under-17 Derby. Come check out all of the youth department's activities this coming Saturday.

 Hapoel “Roie” Raanana – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:00, Raanana

Ziv Arie’s team has won three matches in a row and will look to keep up the momentum against Raanana this Saturday. The Sharon side finds itself two places beneath Maccabi on the table with only three points separating the clubs.

Hapoel “Tzachi” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 10:30, Wolfson Training Facility

An Under-17 Derby! Ori Uzan and Leon Asraf’s team will visit the Reds training facility to face off against their city rivals. Uzan’s Yellow-and-Blue side find themselves in first place with Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel nipping at their heels.

Hapoel “Emmanuel” Petach Tikva – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 08:30, Sirkin Petach Tikva

The Under-16 team made its way into first place two Matchdays ago and this coming Saturday will look to extend their lead when they visit Hapoel Petach Tikva. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side will definitely gain some points as their two closet rivals SC Ashdod and Hapoel Tel Aviv will be facing each other this weekend as well.

Beitar “Gady” Jerusalem – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 09:00, Bayit Vegan

Featuring a perfect record since the opening of the season, Erez Belfer’s team will visit the capital city to take on Beitar Jerusalem.

Maccabi “Hadar” Herzliya – Maccabi “Team 2” Tel Aviv, 12:30, Herzliya Training Sector

Ran Elias’s club will look to get back on the winning track when they play away at Herzliya on Matchday 9 of the Sharon Under-15 League.

 

 Hapoel “Roie” Raanana – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:00, ...

Alberman: “Many small steps to take”

This evening Gal Alberman spoke to the Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-16 & Under-17 teams

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s First Team and Youth Department have a very close multi-dimensional relationship across many areas. They work closely together on various programs including enrichment lectures that are given to the department’s youth. This evening, Maccabi’s defensive midfielder Gal Alberman spoke to the Under-16 & Under-17 teams about professionalism and being a winner.

The presentation took place at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility where the veteran player spoke about his career so far as a footballer. The lecture, which lasted an hour was also attended by the Youth Department Director Nir Levin as well as the Under-17 coach Ori Uzan and Under-16 coaches Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer.

Here are some of the issues presented by the Yellow-and-Blue #6:

The importance of learning while becoming a footballer

“The importance of learning during the training sessions is enormous. The deep desire to learn and advance is especially crucial at this age. Investing time and effort during training, working on aspects that one is weak at is critical. You may feel that you are good enough at certain things but when you get closer and closer to the First Team you’ll feel that the level of difficulty will continue to rise. These are the most critical points of a footballers’s career and you have to give your utmost when your opportunity arises so that you won’t regret not having developed yourself properly. The way up is very hard and there are many small steps to take, the way down is much, much shorter.”

How modern football has changed

“You must be much more intelligent and aware in today’s football. The differences in agility and speed may come down to a split second. The more you are aware of your position on the pitch and you make sure that you are in the right spots to receive the ball as well as knowing where the opponent is, will all be very helpful to you. Today’s football has moved into high gear. Football of the past had much more space and more room for talents to put on a show. Today there is very little room for players who don’t work very hard on the pitch and give it the maximum. You have to think before you get the ball.”

Being unique

“My career was built on making the players around me better. This season I’ve scored one goal and last year I don’t think I even had one. The help I gave to my teammates made me the player I am today. I enjoy and appreciate what I do even if I don’t score.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s First Team and Youth Department have ...

Arie: “We can do much more”

The youth team coach summed up his club's performance after a 2:0 victory over Petach Tikva. Ran Vaturi also commented: "I'm happy that our development is showing in the results"

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv finished their Champions League Youth League campaign and can now focus solely on the domestic league. Currently the Under-19 side is running on all cylinders winning three in a row after defeating Maccabi Petach Tikva 2:0 at home at Ramle Stadium. Ziv Arie summed up the young Yellow-and-Blue’s third straight win:

“I’m not completely satisfied. We controlled the first half but we lost too many balls and gave up to many fouls. We were leading 2:0 in the second half and our lives should have been much easier. We haven’t given up a goal in the past three matches and we are improving, but nonetheless we can do much more, however we’re still in the process of doing so.”

On getting closer to the top of the table:

“The kids are intelligent, they are working hard and are doing what we want them to. A month ago we didn’t talk about heading to the top of the table and we’re not going to do that now. We are a very young team who are still recovering from the Champions League and the player who scored a brace today is in fact an Under-16 aged player. We’re a going from match to match and of course we want to be leading the league. If we continue along this path and continue to improve then there’s no reason why we won’t be there.”

Next week against Raanana:

“Raanana is definitely not an easy match. Their side is almost like the first team and they play a suffocating defense. It won’t be easy and we will prepare all week just like we do for every other match. If we do everything correctly then we will win that game as well.”

Comments about the winter tournament:

“Four of the players weren’t in the starting lineup. Bar Galili wasn’t in our squad and I prayed he would not get injured after playing 90 minutes in all three matches. We made a decision and didn’t want to take a risk. We have a good and balanced squad, not yet at last year’s level but on the way. Amit Shapira started today and was very good as was Lazar Durovic. We have a lots for good players.”

Ran Vaturi helped his side keep a clean sheet and spoke about that and about the number of players that were on the National Team side:

“It’s flattering to have so many representatives on the National Team. While the preparation for this match wasn’t ideal we worked hard to improve, listened to the coach’s instructions and came into the game ready.”

About the amount of matches Bar Galili played:

“Bar Galili is an excellent central defender just as the rest of our squad here at Maccabi and we are doing a lot of good work together. Petach Tikva didn’t come to close up but we came prepared. I’m happy we took the points.”

On the club’s third win in a row:

“You can say we are continuing to gain momentum. We’re not looking at the past but each match one at a time. I’m happy that our development is showing in the results.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv finished their Champions League Youth ...

Maccabi Shachar defeats Petach Tikva 2-0

Maccabi "Shachar" Tel Aviv picked up their 3rd win in a row, defeating Maccabi Petach Tikva 2:0 on an Eden Kartzev brace.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv’s starting lineup reflected the fact that a number of players had been part of the Under-18 side in this past week’s winter tournament. Haviv Ohayon was the only player of the five who were in the squad that opened for the club against Petach Tikva.

The Yellow-and-Blue’s first chance came in the 20th minute when Amit Shapira received a terrific cross field pass and entered the attacking area. The midfielder then gave the ball off to striker Lazar Durovic who waited to pass it to Kanichowsky who took the tough angled shot that eventually went out. Five minutes later Idan Binyamin had a wonderful chance in the Maccabi box but Ohayon was in the right place to grab the effort.

The hosts continued to look for a goal and finally took a 1:0 lead in the 26th minute. Amit Rosenboim lifted the ball to Shapira who headed it back to Eden Kartzev who drilled it into the Petach Tikva goal.

In the 35th minute Shapira had a chance to double the score as he got by his defender on the right side but his effort was batted away by keeper Itay Shmuel. The half came to an end as captain Dan Glazer picked up a 44th minute yellow card.

The Yellow-and-Blue goal scorer, Kartzev picked up a yellow card of his own in the 53rd minute when he fouled the opposition’s central defender. Ziv Arie then made a pair of substitutions bringing in Or Dasa and Mahmoud Al Awesat for Eylon Almog and Lazar Durovic. Just a few minutes later Maccabi added to their lead when Kanichowsky was fouled in the box good for a penalty that Kartzev converted for a brace and a 2:0 advantage.

In the 63rd minute Kartzev exited the match and Tomer Altman who played all three National Team games earlier in the week took his place while Dor Galili who just returned from army duty replaced Shapira. For the remaining minutes of the match end to end play was on the menu but no real opportunities materialized. In the 79th minute, Galili’s 20 meter effort would go wide and Glazer’s chance also didn’t find its target while Kanichowsky’s hard shot was sent out for a corner by the Petach Tikva keeper. Rany Hamzey entered the match near it’s end to earn his first minutes of the year.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv’s starting lineup reflected the fact ...

On the Starting Line- Dan Glazer’s European Tour

In his final youth season, we accompanied the Maccabi "Shachar" captain to the Dynamo Kiev match, spoke about his future and his view of Alberman as his role model

Youth Department Action, Saturday December 19th

It's a busy Saturday in the youth department with tons of matches and lots of action. Where will you be this Saturday?

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “David Asis” Petach Tikva 11:00, Ramle Municipal Stadium

Maccabi’s Under-19 side returns to action after a week break and following the Israel National Team Under-18 Winter Tournament where five Yellow-and-Blue representatives had the opportunity to wear the Blue-and-White. Ziv Arie’s team will take on 6th place Maccabi Petach Tikva just two points behind Maccabi. The club wants to get closer to the top of the league this Saturday following their Champions League Youth League campaign.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Hapoel “Nir” Ramat HaSharon 11:00, Kiryat Shalom Training Facility

Ori Uzan and Leon Asraf’s charges will look to continue their fine form as they host their Ramat HaSharon counterparts at Kiryat Shalom. Maccabi “Oded” find themselves in first place and will look to extend their lead this coming Saturday.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Hapoel “Nir” Ramat HaSharon 11:00, Kiryat Shalom Training Facility

In an additional match between the two clubs at Kiryat Shalom the Under-16 sides of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Ramat HaSharon will play each other. Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gady Brumer’s team have good momentum going as they are top of their domestic league table.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Ironi Modiin 10:30, Kiryat Shalom Training Facility

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Under-15 team will host Ironi Modiin at the training facility. Erez Belfer and his club are in first place and will try to increase their lead on Saturday.

Maccabi Ironi “Yehuda Partush” Petach Tikva – Maccabi “Team 2” Tel Aviv – 08:30, Petach Tikva Training Facility

It a battle for the top spot Ran Elias’s side will take on first place Petach Tikva. The young Yellow-and-Blue can take over first place if they defeat their rivals.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “David Asis” Petach Tikva ...

Ben Harush: “It’s time to focus on the league”

Maccabi Tel Aviv opened the second round of WINNER League matches with a 2:0 win at Bnei Sakhnin to maintain their overall lead and remain atop the table

Omri Ben Harush the Yellow-and-Blue left back helped Maccabi to a 2:0 victory over Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium on Matchday Fourteen to open up the second round of WINNER League matches. The win marked the 4th league game in a row that the club has recorded a clean sheet and much credit goes to the defenders:

“It was an important game to begin the second round of matches with a win. We gained some confidence and now we’re going to begin to prepare for next week’s match against Hapoel Beer Sheva.”

The style of play Bnei Sakhnin brought to the table:

“We’ve seen this style of defensive play before from our other opponents over the last few months and we changed up our offense and formation in the second half to better deal with it.”

On playing in the Champions League:

“It was exciting to be a part of the Champions League but course we were a bit disappointed. The main thing is to return to the competition next year but now it’s time to focus on the league.”

Omri Ben Harush the Yellow-and-Blue left back helped Maccabi to a ...

Maccabi picks up 2-0 win over Sakhnin

Zahavi stars for the Yellow-and-Blue against Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium coming away with a tidy 2:0 victory on Matchday Fourteen

Maccabi Tel Aviv visited Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium to open up the second round of WINNER League matches and came away with a 2:0 victory on a brace by the captain, Eran Zahavi. A first half goal and a second half strike sandwiched a missed penalty at the stroke of halftime by number 7 as the Yellow-and-Blue won their Matchday Fourteen encounter. Next Monday night, December  21st at 20:55, Hapoel Beer Sheva will visit Bloomfield Stadium in an attractive 1-2 matchup.

Head Coach Slavisa Jokanovic went with a 4-3-3 formation in front of starting keeper Predrag Rajkovic as Eli Dasa and Omri Ben Harush were the right and left backs respectively while Tal Ben Haim and Carlos Garcia played as central defenders. Gal Alberman, Shlomi Azulay and Nosa Igiebor played right behind an attacking trio of Avi Rikan, Barak Itzhaki and captain Eran Zahavi.

Bnei Sakhnin seemed to be the more dangerous of the two sides in the first ten minutes as the hosts had a pair of corner kicks and an excellent close range chance by Jorginho that was smartly cleared by defender Ben Haim. In the 12th minute Rikan’s 16 meter screamer of effort from the left side just went by the near post to keep the match goalless for the time being. However, just one minute later Zahavi would change all of that.

Dasa lifted a nice ball into the box from the right side that Zahavi headed into the left post that didn’t find the back of the goal. But number 7 followed up on his own rebound and pounded it home for the 1:0 advantage. As the match headed into the 22nd minute, Jokanovic was forced to use his first substitution as he replaced an injured Azulay with Dor Peretz.

With the first half winding down Bnei Sakhnin began to threaten the Maccabi goal but Rajkovic was in the right place at the right time on a pair of opportunities. In the 38th minute,

Jorginho’s header from a perfect lead pass by Firas Mugrabi was saved by the Serbian keeper while Weam Amasha’s  chance from inside the box was instinctively pawed away by Rajkovic to keep the lead intact. Just before the sides headed to the break, Zahavi was awarded a penalty when Itzhaki was pushed down in the box, but his ensuing kick from 11 meters went off of the right post and out as the halftime whistle was blown.

With the missed penalty still on his mind, Zahavi made amends very quickly with a 55th minute strike from the top of the box that beat Sakhnin keeper Kadosh to double the Maccabi lead. The hosts didn’t raise the white flag yet and in the 61st minute Mugrabi sent a wonderful pass to Sakhnin’s Shlomi Azulay whose headed ball just bounced off of Rajkovic’s left post and out of bounds.

The visitors searched long and hard for a third goal as the final half hour ticked down but Peretz’s goal was ruled offside, Itzhaki’s free kick went over the bar and Ben Chaim’s effort was sent out of play by Kadosh as the match ended 2:0 in favor of the Yellow-and-Blue.

Next Monday December 21st, Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Beer Sheva at Bloomfield Stadium on Matchday Fifteen pitting the two top teams in the league against one another separated only by goal differential. Check the official Maccabi Tel Aviv website and download the official club App to keep up to date on all of the latest news and views about your favorite team.

Maccabi Tel Aviv visited Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium to ...

Five Maccabi players to represent Israel

The traditional winter tournament held in Israel for Under-18 national teams will feature Serbia, Germany, Ukraine and Israel

The Under-18 Israel National Team will play host to the traditional winter tournament that will feature Serbia, Germany and the Ukraine along with Israel. Coach Eli Ohana will have five Maccabi Tel Aviv youth players on his roster including keeper Haviv Ohayon, Bar Galili, Shai Golan, Tomer Altman and Or Dasa who will all be wearing Blue-and-White.

Israel will host its games at Ramat Gan Stadium while the other matches will take place at the Israel National Team training facility at Shefayim. Israel’s first game will be at Ramat Gan Stadium against Serbia tomorrow, Monday at 15:00 and admission is free.

The Under-18 Israel National Team will play host to the ...