Category: First Team
Watch: Keane ahead of Bnei Sakhnin
The camera’s lens: preparing for the Playoff
A Purim visit: Players visit kids at Shamir Medical Centre
The Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation and the first team players continued a long tradition ahead of Purim by visiting kids who are hospitalized at the various wards.
The players had their photos taken, signed autographs and handed out some official club merchandise.
Gabi Kanichowsky said during the visit: “Visiting the kids here to strengthen them a little and place a smile on their faces during this holiday is a privilege. We are at Purim we normally come here to try and make the kids a little happy. This Purim it is tough for all of us, a lot of sadness is involved, but to see these kids and their families smile gives us a lot of strength and joy.”
Ahead of the Playoff which kicks off at the weekend with a home match against Bnei Sakhnin, Kanichowsky added: “Despite the fact we have reached the Playoff we must continue in our journey and do what we did so far this season. We all know what needs to be done and although this is not the final line, we can feel the excitement of the fans. The Playoff has always something special in it and I just hope that we will complete the job”
For the first time in Israel: SAMSUNG Israel collaborates with Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club
SAMSUNG and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC are announcing today a first of a kind unique collaboration according to which a special limited edition will be launched for the club’s fans.
The special edition will be launched via a special package consisting of a mobile device from the flagship Galaxy S24 which was launched at the beginning of the year and offers for the first time the Galaxy AI (Artificial Intelligence) experience.
The limited edition includes one device from the flagship series Galaxy S24 Plus / Galaxy S24 Ultra that were specially designed with the look and feel of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, alongside an official Maccabi Tel Aviv team shirt signed by the players, a scarf and a unique digital Maccabi cover which was specifically customized for the devices of the new Galaxy S24 series.
As part of the collaboration the device will include special Maccabi features which were developed via the Samsung Knox Configure technology, such as: A branded opening screen, a screen saver and lock screens as well as an App page dedicated to Maccabi’s Applications.
Additionally and throughout the collaboration period, the devices will be updated with additional features specially adapted for the fabs’ version.
Daniel Levy, Maccabi’s Business Development Director, said: “A collaboration of such kind between a firm which is regarded as a global technological giant is another testimony to the strength of the Maccabi Tel Aviv brand. The fact our fans could enjoy unique customized features is groundbreaking and allows an emotional added value to the fan which is an addition to the choice of SAMSUNG for its’ technological progress.”
Ornit Bauer ,Samsung Israel Marketing Directorg, added: “We congratulate the collaboration with Maccabi Tel Aviv which is regarded as one of the most loved football clubs in Israel and wish the fans an ultimate user experience with the new devices”
Price of a GALAXY S24 PLUS package NIS 3,999
Price of a GALAXY S24 ULTRA package NIS 5,199
Playoff fixtures published
The first two Playoff matches were announced as Maccabi host Bnei Sakhnin for MD27 on March 30th before hosting Maccabi Haifa on MD28 for a top of the table clash on April 8th.
Fixtures announced:
MD27
Saturday March 30th: Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Hapoel Haifa (Turner, 16:00)
Saturday March 30th: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Sakhnin (Bloomfield, 20:00)
Sunday March 31st: Maccabi Haifa vs Bnei Reineh (Sammy Ofer, 20:30)
State Cup Quarter Finals:
Tuesday April 2nd Kiryat Shmona vs Hapoel Nof Hagallil (Netanya, 19:30)
Tuesday April 2nd: Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Petah Tikva, 20:30)
Wednesday April 3rd Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Petah Tikva, 19:30)
Wednesday April 3rd Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Netanya (Sammy Ofer, 20:30)
MD28:
Saturday April 6th : Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoe Haifa (Doha, 20:00)
Sunday April 7th: Bnei Reineh vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Nof Hagallil, 20:15)
Monday April 8th: Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa (Bloomfield, 20:30)
MD29: April 13th – 15th (TBA)
Hapoel Haifa vs Bnei Reineh (Sammy Ofer, )
Maccabi Haifa vs Bnei Sakhnin (Sammy Ofer, )
Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
MD30: April 20th – 21st (TBA)
Bnei Sakhnin vs Bnei Reineh (Doha, )
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Haifa (Bloomfield, )
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Sammy Ofer, )
MD31: April 27th & 29th (TBA)
Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Nof Hagallil, )
Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Bnei Sakhnin (Turner, )
Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Haifa (Sammy Ofer, )
MD32: May 4th & 6th (TBA)
Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Doha, )
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Sammy Ofer, )
Bnei Reineh vs Maccabi Haifa (Nof Hagallil, )
MD33: May 9th & 11th (TBA)
Hapoel Haifa vs Bnei Sakhnin (Sammy Ofer, )
Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Bnei Reineh (Turner , )
Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Sammy Ofer, )
MD34: May 18th – 20th (TBA)
Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Haifa (Doha, )
Bnei Reineh vs Hapoel Haifa (Nof Hagallil, )
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Bloomfield, )
MD35: May 21st – 23rd (TBA)
Bnei Reineh vs Bnei Sakhnin (Nof Hagallil, )
Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Sammy Ofer, )
Hapoel Be’ersheva vs Maccabi Haifa (Turner ,)
MD36: May 25th – 27th (TBA)
Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoel Be’ersheva (Doha stadium, )
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Reineh (Bloomfield, )
Maccabi Haifa vs Hapoel Haifa (Sammy Ofer, )
Peretz: “Our role is to do our homework and show character”
Dor Peretz paid tribute to the entire team as he praised his teammates for a professional display that helped Maccabi record their 19th league victory this season to open a 7 point lead at the top of the table. “My good performance is a testimony to a great team effort. We showed excellent football right from the start of the match. The penalty held us back a little, but we completed our job.”
When asked to share some of the feelings following the Conference League defeat to Olympiacos, Peretz said: “This is football. We learned on Thursday how unexpected it could be and we were taught a massive lesson. Our role is to bounce back, do our homework and show character so I am happy.”
Trying to reflect a bit more on missing out of what could have been a historic qualification to a final eight of a European competition, Peretz said: “We are the first to suffer, while the fans are with us through thick and thin. We are the first to suffer the blow and we are also the first who would like to correct it. We are happy we bounced back and continue moving forward.”
As Maccabi opened a seven point lead at the end of the regular season and on the eve of the Playoff, Peretz said: “It is great to finish the regular season in top spot but this is only regular season. We still have plenty of work to do in order to reach our targets and if we will continue to look like we did, with passion and aggression, we will achieve our goals.”
Keane: “The players deserve a lot of credit”
Maccabi beat Hapoel Haifa 3-1
Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the ONE ZERO League MD26 match against Hapoel Haifa, a match which will end the regular season before the Playoff gets underway.
Having secured top spot before the order of the Playoff fixtures is determined, Maccabi, will aim at least to hold onto the five point lead they have over second place Maccabi Haifa before hosting them on MD28.
Three days after the majority of his players featured for 120 minutes against Olympiacos in Serbia, Robbie Keane made several changes to his starting line up. Roi Mishpati and Enric Saborit kept their places in goal and center-back respectively and were the only two of Maccabi’s back-line to start in both matches. Matan Baltaxa partnered Saborit at the heart of defense with Avishay Cohen and Ofir Davidzada completing Maccabi’s back-four as the right and left full-backs respectively. Eden Karzev started at the anchorman role and he was accompanied by Eyal Golasa and Dor Peretz in the midfield engine room. Felicio Milson recovered from the knock that forced him to limp out of the game against Olympiacos to be named by Keane on one wing. Dan Biton, who replaced the Angolan winger in Backa Topola, started on the opposite right flank as the duo were tasked at supplying the width to Keane’s formation. Eran Zahavi led the attack as the veteran striker who scored 13 goals in Europe this season now returns to focus his attention on the domestic league where he scored 12 so far.
On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Roy Revivo, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Jori van Overeem, Yonas Malede, Gabi Kanichowsky,Ido Shahar and Osher Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot and created the first chance to score as early as the fourth minute. Felicio Milson charged down the left and shrugged off his defender before cutting the ball back for Dor Peretz whose effort was saved by Yoav Gerafi. At the opposite end Haifa’s Itamar Noy then Tomer Yosefi tried their luck from outside the box, but on both occasions, the ball flashed outside of Roi Mishpati’s post. Ofir Davidzada, starting at left back drove forward in the 8th minute before sending a dangerous square ball which was cleared by a Haifa defender before it could reach Eran Zahavi.
In the 11th minute and against the run of play the visitors were awarded a penalty after Filipe Santos broke into the box and flicked the ball onto Avishay Cohen’s hand. Referee Gal Leibovic pointed at the spot before Yosefi slotted home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
In the 18th minute Eden Karzev was teed up by Davidzada on the edge of the box before drilling a low powerful drive that forced Gerafi to stretch himself and claw the ball out for a corner. Matan required medical attention as he suffered a head injury during his attempt to head the resulting corner.
In the 26th minute Milson’s quick first step took him past Noam Ben Harush before the Hapoel Haifa full-back pulled the Angolan winger down in the box. Leibovic didn’t hesitate once again asbhe awarded Maccabi a penalty which Zahavi blasted home past Gerafi to restore parity with his 13th league goal.
Three minutes after the half hour mark Dor Peretz Peretz drilled a powerful right foot dipping shot that Gerafi managed to get a hand to and punch away. Milson had another claim for a penalty waived by the referee after he was brought down by Ben Harush. Two minutes later his trickery got the majority of Bloomfield off their seats chanting the name of the Angolan wizard who toyed with the opponents defense.
Maccabi kept dominating as Karzev came close with a powerful shot which Gerafi could only turn above his crossbar for a corner. Baltaxa rose high to head the resulting corner which bounced off a defender as Maccabi tried to a lead before the break.
Inside injury time the comeback was complete as Milson slipped the ball to Peretz who carved Haifa’s defence open to feed Zahavi. The 36-year-old who found himself with only Gerafi to beat blasted in his second on the night to give Maccabi a 2-1 lead at the break.
Second Half
While Robbie Keane made no changes at the restart, his Haifa counterpart Roni Levy made a double change as Dor Malul and Bar Lin replaced Naor Sabbag and Itay Buganim.
In the 57th minute, Bar Lin, who is on loan at Haifa cut inside on his left foot shot that struck the outside of the post. Within a minute a Haifa counter attack saw Lin tap the ball home from close range. But the visitors’ celebrations were shortlived as VAR spotted a foul on Eyal Golasa in the build up for the goal and Leibovic who was called to view the incident cancelled the goal. Keane reacted with a double substitution as Golasa and Biton bowed out and were replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky and Osher Davida on 62.
Keane made his third substitution in the 69th minute as Ido Shahar replaced Avishay Cohen at right back. In the 86th minute Maccabi’s victory was secured as three of the subs combined for Maccabi’s third goal. Shahar began the attack down the right and released Davida whose square ball was directed at Turgeman before Peretz pounced on the rebound to slot in the third goal.
Watch: Davidzada ahead of Hapoel Haifa
Ofir Davizada experienced a lot during his playing career and in seven seasons and over 200 appearances for Maccabi Tel Aviv won seven trophies but also suffered some setbacks. The 32-year-old faced the media ahead of the ONE ZERO League MD26 match against Hapoel Haifa which will end the regular season before the international break which will be followed by the Playoffs. Davizada didn’t hide his disappointment from Thursday’s Conference League exit to Olympiacos as the 6-1 defeat after extra time in Serbia saw Maccabi crash out 7-5 on aggregate, and was candid: “Obviously Thursday was a massive disappointment but a big club is tested at moments like this: when you win then everything is easy and flowing, there is confidence in abundance, but as soon as you encounter an unexpected result and a big set-back then the character of the players, staff and club is put to the test.” Against an Hapoel Haifa side that is fighting for third place, and since the defeat to Maccabi on the final day of last year lost only twice in the league in 12 matches, Davidzada said: “We are facing a big game as we aim to show we have the character and confidence as players to show that we are top of the table on merit. We earned our right to be top and need to continue the good season we have been experiencing.”
Davizada, who in addition to his 2 league titles with Maccabi, won the championship with Hapoel Be’ersheva as well, added: “Every team has its’ spirit and vibe. We have our coaching staff, led by Robbie Keane who experienced so much is his playing career even a crisis, and I am sure he will know how to pass on the right message to the players as we have our fair share of history as well. There are experienced players here in the squad who must show leadership and continue driving the team forward to try and continue achieving the targets we set ourselves at the start of the season. For the moment we met all our targets and need to remember it and stick by it. The match against Hapoel Haifa is a massive test of the team’s character.”
To describe the ups and downs professional players experience, Davidzada reflected on the start of his illustrious career: “At the start of my career I made a debut appearance against Maccabi Haifa, had a decent performance, and two matches later played well as well. Then we had a game away to Ashdod and lost 4-0 or 5-0. At the end of the match the assistant coach approached me and said: ‘Welcome to senior football’. At the end of the day this is life and that is in football as well. This is where big players are measured. Our players have good character, they know how to deal with results that are not that good. The blend we have here of young and experienced players, who know how to lift you up when needed, whether that is Eran (Zahavi), Sheran (Yeini) and Dor (Peretz). I can tell you that the belnd with the youngsters we have is a good one and I have a good feeling ahead of Hapoel Haifa. This is what it feels to me, and I hope we will be able to show it as well.”
