Under-19 Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about Saturday’s Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv at Ramle Stadium, 15:45 while also looking at the important process that is now going on within the Maccabi Youth Department and the goals that are being put into place:
“I think that what is happening now in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Department is something brand new to Israeli football. The standards of the training sessions and the coaches to everything surrounding the department is at the highest of levels. The same is true with the demands that are being placed on the players and the whole coaching staff. I believe that this is an excellent and the results will be seen over the next few years. I’m thrilled to be a part of this process.”
Saturday’s Derby:
“The word Derby gives me goosebumps any time I talk about playing against Hapoel Tel Aviv and it’s very exciting. But as a coach and a teacher I have to make sure the players know that the path that we are on is of the utmost importance and that we have organizational standards that have to be put in place at both practices and during games themselves. I hope that we can continue on the path that we are on no matter what team we are facing. Of course winning the Derby would be great and would give us tremendous satisfaction. I hope that we do exactly that on Saturday.”
The goals at Maccabi’s Youth Department:
“As someone who has seen the various youth departments around the country, the focus is on titles, championships and cups. Here at Maccabi our goal is to help produce quality players and to simulate as much as possible what the Senior Team does which in itself is a totally different world than what occurs at youth departments in general.
We can’t forget that the process that the youth players go through on the way to the First Team also includes the army and there are times when the players don’t completely acclimate. So we put a lot of pressure and demands on them during the training sessions and the matches that we play both during the week and not only on Saturday. This way the players will be more prepared and closer to the ultimate goal which is to play with the Senior Team.”
Encouraging the fans to come out to Ramle to support the team tomorrow:
“I spoke to the guys a lot about this and it’s important for them that everyone comes out to cheer them on and support them. The fans will get to see the future stars who are training and working very hard and want to represent Maccabi honorably and eventually get to the First Team. I think that it would be great if the fans come and root them on.”
