Maccabi Tel Aviv’s International Youth Tournament is underway until Sunday January 21 and we spoke with representatives of the two foreign clubs that are taking part in the competition; Patrice Haddad the owner of Red Star Paris and Slawomir Czarniecki, Bayer Leverkusen’s Sports Coordinator. The pair discussed their expectations for the tournament as well as the importance of the 6 team competition in the middle of January.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT CLICK HERE
Slawomir Czarniecki began working at Bayer Leverkusen in the year 2000 and served as the club’s youth coach. In 2006 he moved into a management role as the assistant to the sports director (responsible for all first team matters), and is currently the sports coordinator, a position that combines youth coaching and management in one role.
“We are combining this year’s tournament with our annual training camp, and arrived in Israel one week before the beginning of the tournament. The tournament offers us the perfect opportunity to combine our long-planned winter training camp with the opportunity to play against the best Israeli teams. We decided on Israel as the location, due to our long-standing good relationship with football federation.”
Thoughts about taking part in the International Tournament taking place in Israel:
“As a club, we regularly play in international tournaments and friendly matches as we believe these are valuable for personal player development. We are looking forward to being in Israel this winter and to take on the challenges that await us. Furthermore, the exchange of ideas between coaches and clubs provides an opportunity for to grow and improve. Additionally, the cultural and historic aspects of Israel offers our players a further opportunity to broaden their horizons and develop further off of the pitch.”
Relationship with Maccabi Tel Aviv:
“Our first contact with Maccabi Tel Aviv occurred last summer, during the Bundesliga Football School where Bayer 04 Leverkusen and myself were involved. Since then we have enjoyed a friendly and professional exchange, especially with Patrick van Leeuwen and hope to continue to do so in the future.”
Expectations for the tournament:
“According to our own experience and that of DFB (German Football Association), we expect to enjoy a comfortable and well-organized trip and tournament.”
Other activities that the club will do while in Israel:
“We will encourage our players to see and experience as much of Israel’s culture and history as possible, in their free time from the camp and the tournament. We are definitely planning a trip to Leverkusen’s sister city Nazareth Illit and are planning to visit other places of interest.
Patrice Haddad, the owner of Red Star Paris also commented on the opportunity to take part in the Maccabi Tel Aviv International Tournament:
“Our objective is to win the tournament as well as allowing the young players the chance to experience a competition of this magnitude which they normally don’t have the chance to do.”
Feelings about the importance of taking part in the tournament:
“There are no borders in sport.”
Relationship between Maccabi and Red Star:
“The relationship between the clubs began due to a contact that put the two sides in touch which eventually led to taking part in the International Tournament in Israel.”
Expectations of the trip as a whole:
“As a club, we want to play at the highest level possible thanks to the Maccabi Tel Aviv organizing committee. Israel is a beautiful country and there is much to see.”
