On Saturday Maccabi's Youth Division teams will have their eyes set on advancing in the State Cup competition
After opening up a four-point lead at the top of the national U19 Premier League, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will take time out this Saturday to turn their attention to State Cup duties. Their first tie will be a home encounter at 11.30am at the Kiryat Shalom training ground against Hapoel Jerusalem, one of the leading sides in the U19 second division Southern District title race. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", the club's Under-17s, have already begun their run in State Cup competition. After successfully reaching the second round, head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's charges will now face fellow U17 Premier League opponents Maccabi Petach Tikva at 10.45am in a tricky away tie for a ticket to the third round. Like the Under-19s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", the club's Under-16s, will have their maiden encounter in the competition when they travel to the "Safari" football ground in neighbouring Ramat Gan to face fellow league compatriots Hapoel Ramat Gan at 11am.
The Under-15 State Cup competition is already entering the round of the last sixteen, and both of Maccabi's teams, "Eldad" and Team 2, are still firmly in the race. Both teams will be on the road this Saturday, "Eldad" at Maccabi Kfar Yona at 9am and Team 2 at Hapoel Nazareth Elite Jezreel Valley at 1.30pm.
Into the third round are Maccabi's Under-14 Team South, who attempt to reach round four at the expense of Maccabi Emek Heffer on Saturday at 9am on the artificial pitch at the Kiryat Shalom. The Under-14 Team North on the other hand will play away to fellow U14 Sharon District League competitors Maccabi Herzliya at 10.45am. The club's Under-13 Team South will enter their State Cup fray in round three when they host Hapoel Mata Asher on Kiryat Shalom's artificial pitch at 11am. Maccabi's Under-13 Team North will make the short journey to Herzliya for a chance to advance to their State Cup competition's last sixteen, facing Maccabi Herzliya at 1.30pm.
Other matches:
Under-12 Team North – Hapoel Tel Aviv (Hadar Yosef, 9am)
Under-12 Team South – Hapoel Kfar Saba (Kiryat Shalom, 1pm)
Under-11 Team South – Maccabi Netanya (Kiryat Shalom, 8.30am)
Under-11 Team North – Hapoel Mata Asher (Hadar Yosef, 11am)
