Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" are preparing for the 2013/14 season after the launch of a new-look U17 Premier League
Maccabi Tel Aviv 's Under-17s have completed their training camp in the German town of Hennef and have returned to Israel to continue their pre-season preparations. The squad of head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon, composed largely of last year's Under-16s, played two matches against local German sides during the six-day camp. In the first encounter, "Oded" were defeated by Fortuna Dusseldorf 2-1, with Omri Haramati scoring Maccabi's only goal. Their second opponent was the local Hennef team, whom "Oded" defeated 0-4 courtesy of a second goal by Omri Haramati, a brace by Omer Lakou and an individual effort by Raz Itzhak. In addition to these two competitive matches, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" continued regular training, including swimming and rope-climbing in the forests surrounding Hennef.
Back here in Israel the team have continued a schedule of pre-season friendlies, the last of which a 3-0 defeat of the Under-19 team of Hapoel Mahane Yehuda. The top-flight Under-17 season will officially kick off on September 21st in what will now be called the "National U17 Premier League". The structure of the league has been changed and will now more resemble the structure of the U19 Premier League. To that end the eight different teams of both the nationwide U19 Leagues North and South have been drawn together into one national "Premier" League consisting of 16 teams. In matchweek 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" will be hosting Bnei Sakhnin at the Kiryat Shalom training ground.
