This past year saw the ILAN – Israel Association for Children with Disabilities create the “HaKatlanim” football team made up of physically challenged children who play the game we all love and fulfill a dream.

A group of volunteers who work with the team and train the children were in touch with the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation and were invited to the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom. The emotional visit began with a talk by Foundation Head Yuval Shaham and the coach of “HaKatlanim”. The children then met the players and received Maccabi kits as they held a joint training session with the Maccabi stars.

Foundation Director Yuval Shaham spoke about the program: “The Maccabi Foundation and the Club are happy to host this special team of children. They are role models for all of us and their ability to play the game that we all love despite their challenges gives us all a tremendous amount of inspiration.

The coach of “HaKatlanim” Ben Rahav said: “In the name of all of the children I want to thank the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club Foundation and on this exceptional event. The sensitivity and care shown by members of the Foundation including Yuval Shaham and Assaf Shemesh together with the players gave the children and their families great joy and motivation to continue to play football and to not feel inferior than any other child.”

After the training, Pizza Prego, one of the Club’s sponsors, provided lunch for the parents and children.