In the first visit of its kind, the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad paid a special visit today to the Israeli Air Force base at Hatzor. Defender Carlos Garcia: "An absolutely amazing experience"
As part of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club's ongoing and wide-ranging involvement in community activity, the entire squad and playing staff today paid a visit to a rather unconventional venue: Squadron 101, Israel's leading fighter jet group, at their home near the "Hatzor" Air Force base. For the Maccabi Tel Aviv squad, who left for the "Hatzor" base directly after their morning practice, this was the first visit of its kind to the Israeli Air Force, and both players and staff were clearly keen to take advantage of this unique opportunity to get a closer look at the activity at an Israeli air force base. The team were accompanied and guided by squadron 101's lieutenant commander, a dyed-in-the-wool fan who has been the proud owner of a Maccabi Tel Aviv season ticket for the past fifteen years.
The first stop on the team's tour was a close look (and listen) at the fighter planes themselves. Afterwards they attended a lecture about the squadron and its history given by the squadron's lieutenant commander, who drew parallels between the physical preparedness of football players and fighter jet pilots. But for the players, the highlight of the visit was entering the flight simulator, which gave them a feel for what the pilots themselves experience when they're up in the air. Most of the players also had the opportunity to actually get into the cockpit of one of the planes but finished their tour as observers, of a fighter jet on the tarmac preparing for take-off.
At the end of the tour, members of the squadron presented Maccabi Tel Aviv owner representative Jack Angelides and sports director Jordi Cruyff with a shield of appreciation and in return, the two presented the squadron members with a framed team jersey signed by all the players. Mr Cruyff also spoke after the visit about the team's reaction to their tour: "This was a very nice experience for everyone, the staff and the Israeli and foreign players alike. We would like to express our heart-felt appreciation to the 'Hatzor' Air Force base for the warm reception and the fascinating tour of the base". Team defender Carlos Garcia added his own reactions to the visit: "This tour at the air force base was absolutely amazing for all the players, especially for the foreign players, to see and hear about what is done here for the country's security in defending the skies above it. In the name of all the players I would like to thank the Air Force for their gracious hospitality and from me personally for the opportunity to experience the flight simulator up close. But truthfully, I prefer to make my contribution to defence on the pitch in front of goal. The flying I'll leave to the real professionals".
