Less than a fortnight after losing to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the league derby, Maccabi's U19s will have the opportunity to make amends in the Cup
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s draw for the quarter final of the U19 State Cup was a most intriguing one, a home tie against municipal archrivals Hapoel Tel Aviv. Head coach Ziv Arie's squad earned that draw after overwhelming Hapoel Haifa 0-5 in the last sixteen. After two league derbies and one victory each, Maccabi and Hapoel's third encounter this season will take place next Wednesday March 4th, with the winner headed for the semi-finals. Before that, this coming Saturday at 10.30am, "Shachar" will head off to the Hayud Alef Stadium for an away encounter at Ashdod FC in matchday 20 of the national U19 Premier League. After a run of seven consecutive league wins was dramatically ended in the Tel Aviv derby last weekend, the U19s will attempt to return to winning ways and maintain their six-point league at the top of the league table.
Most of the club's other Youth Division teams will carry on with league duties on Saturday, but the league-leading Under-17s will be playing a postponed State Cup quarter-final tie away at Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan at 8.30am at the Safari Field near Tel Aviv. Maccabi's Under-16s are also topping their league and will also be in Ramat Gan on Saturday for a 9am kick-off against Hapoel Ramat Gan at their Safari playing field. Another Maccabi Youth Division team on top of their league are the Under-15 Team 1, who will be at home at the Kiryat Shalom training ground on Saturday on the artificial pitch at 10.20am to host Gadna Tel Aviv. Maccabi's Under-15 Team 2 wll play away to Sharon District league leaders Maccabi Petach Tikva.
A third Maccabi Youth Division team to play in Ramat Gan this Saturday are the club's Under-14 Team South. Head coach Ori David's lads will also face counterparts from Hapoel Ramat Gan starting at 11am. The Under-14 Team North will be at Kiryat Shalom to welcome Hapoel Hod Hasharon for an early kick-off on the artificial pitch at 8.30am. The Under-13 Team South will head off to face Hapoel Ramat Hasharon on their artificial pitch at 1pm, while the Under-13 Team North will host Hapoel Beer Sheva at 12.15pm at Kiryat Shalom.
