Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar,” the club’s under-19 youth team, hosted traditional arch-rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the city derby on a rainy Saturday in Ness Ziona.

It was a clash between Maccabi in third place and Hapoel, in second and was fairly evenly matched throughout, although neither side were sharp enough to convert any of the few chances to score and the inclement weather played its own part and hampered the accuracy of play.

Maccabi’s lineup: Ben Musayof, Guy Itzhak, Hadar Mor Yosef, Itay Ben Hemo, Rotem Yatzkar (Omer Itzhaki, 45), Niv Berkovitz, Shay Balahssen, (Yalli Lazar, 74), Asaf Hershko, (Afek Sapir Navot, 88), Tal Torgeman (Or Roizman, 55), Parfait Guiagon, Ronen Hanchis (Shaked Navon, 86).

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shachar” continued to display fine form on Saturday in the national youth (under-19) league and notched a convincing 3-2 victory when they hosted Hapoel Nof Hagalil at their home ground in Ness Ziona.

Asaf Hershko, Parfait Guiagon and Nadav Nidam scored for Maccabi in the first half, which ended 3-1. Nof Hagalil managed a very late second goal but it was never going to be enough to threaten the dominant hosts.

Eliezer Ben Aharon’s team are in third place in their division, now three points behind leaders Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi Petah Tikva 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded” 5: U17 followed their convincing Derby victory last week with another great win on Saturday. Dor Turgeman and Aner Oshmandi, with two goals each, and Mohammed Abu Ayash scored for Maccabi, who are in third place in their division, four points off the pace.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eli Fuchs” 3, Maccabi Haifa 1: U16 notched another important win over their Haifa rivals and have now increased their run of victories to nine as they maintain their place atop the standings after 15 rounds. Yakir Zilberman with two, and Or Nathan scored for the winners.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eldad” 2, Bnei Yehuda 2: U15 remain in fourth place in their division after the draw with their opponents in the small city derby. Agam Hanoun scored the goals for Maccabi.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shachar” continued to display fine form on Saturday in the national youth (under-19) league and notched a convincing victory when they hosted Hapoel Nof Hagalil at their home ground in Ness Ziona.

Maccabi dominated from the opening whistle and had several chances to score in the early stages before they finally got on the score sheet in the 23rd minute when Itai Ben Hemo sent a ball that cut through the opposition’s defence to Asaf Hershko, who with only the goalkeeper to beat, made no mistake and slotted in for the first goal.

Only three minutes had passed and Maccabi doubled the score when Parfait Guiagon
struck powerfully from outside the area to find the net again.

But even though Nof Hagalil were on the back foot, they weren’t going to give up without a fight and were back in contention in the 38th minute when Rian Ashmoz headed in from a corner.

That goal appeared to spur Maccabi’s players once more as the first half was coming to a close and Nadav Nidam scored the third goal in the 42nd minute from the penalty spot after Ronen Hanchis was brought down in the area by a Nof Hagalil player.

The momentum remained with Maccabi in the second half and they created several more chances, although none found the target.

The visitors got their second consolation goal three minutes from the end when Yarin Hatukai beat Ben Musayof in the Maccabi goal with an excellent curling shot.

Maccabi’s lineup: Ben Musayof, Hadar Mor Yosef, (Yalli Lazar, 88), Omer Itzhaki, Itai Ben Hamo, Shachar Rosen (Mikel Mor, 35), Nadav Nidam (Afek Sapir Navot, 70), Omri Ram, Asaf Hershko (Niv Berkovitz, 70), Tal Torgeman (Or Roizman, 59), Parfait Guiagon, Ronen Hanchis.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth team return to league action on Saturday after a two-week international break and will host Nof Hagalil at their home ground in Ness Ziona at noon.

Eliezer Ben Aharon’s charges, who are unbeaten, lie third in the youth league table and look to be the favourites against Nof Hagalil, who are 14th in the division with only three wins after 12 rounds of play.

Maccabi Petah Tikva v. Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded”, 14:30: Boys A will be brimming with confidence after winning the Derby last week and like the youth team, lie third in their division, three points ahead and three places ahead of their hosts.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eli Fuchs” v. Maccabi Haifa: Boys B lie atop their division and with eight consecutive wins will be confident going into their match against Haifa, who are third in the division. The game will be played at Kiryat Shalom, kickoff at 10:30.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eldad” v. Bnei Yehuda: Boys C host their opponents in the small city derby in the 10th round of action. They lie fourth in their division, while Bnei Yehuda are seventh. The match will be played at Kiryat Shalom, kickoff at 8.30.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv youth academy named after the late, great Avi Cohen, has seen a significant transformation in the past three years under the guidance of Patrick Van Leeuwen, who has instilled his own vision in the organisation.

The elite training programme for the brightest prospects began last season and this year, Raymond Atteveld, Van Leeuwen’s deputy, is overseeing the development of the young hopefuls.

The elite training programme is running concurrently with the academy’s regular activities. It is tailored individually for each of the club’s brightest prospects to give them the best chance to improve both on the pitch and beyond.

A number of coaches are working together with Atteveld, including Boaz Bracha, Hamda Mari, Uri David and the freshest face on the sidelines, David Revivo.

Making his way through the ranks in Maccabi’s youth system, Revivo is now past his playing days. He talked to us about his experiences as a coach.

“I’m so happy that I have been given the opportunity to be a part of the elite project. Maccabi’s young players have a level of training and facilities that were not available when I was a youngster here. It’s a very praise-worthy addition and gives the chance to instill additional proficiency to those who work hard. There is no question that these players will reap the benefits of their training.”

Revivo said his own hope is to see young players develop both individually and within a team. “It’s not something that many players have, it’s a special programme,” he added.

The first training session last week was attended by some of the most talented players who are slated to become the backbone of Maccabi Tel Aviv and of Israeli football in the future. One of those in training was Roy Revivo, David’s cousin.

“It was great fun to have him in training,” David said.

“I’m very honoured to work alongside excellent coaches and players and under Patrick Van Leeuwen and Raymond Atteveld, it’s a privilege to learn from their experience and observe their dedication and professionalism,” Revivo said.

The State Cup for age group competition gets under way this weekend with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s boys and juniors joining the tournament. The youth team are not in action, however. They will join the competition at a later stage.

Ironi Nesher v. Maccabi Tel Aviv Oded: The Boys A side will begin their quest for the Cup in a second round away tie at Ironi Nesher in the north and Uri David’s charges, fourth in their division, will endeavour to advance in the competition against a side which is next to bottom, having won only once so far in the league this season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Eli Fuchs v. Hapoel Kfar Sava, Kiryat Shalom 09:00: Maccabi’s B team high flyers who lead their division after seven consecutive wins and look a confident bet to advance past their opponents.

Hapoel Nof Hagalil v. Maccabi Tel Aviv Eldad: Hadera Beit Eliezer, 14:30: The Boys C team will look to maintain their positive momentum after their win last weekend against a side that are hosting their match a significant distance from home.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar,” the club’s under-19 team, notched a vital 2-1 win over league leaders Maccabi Haifa on Saturday, a first defeat for the team from the north who have won their last eight games and drawn the other.

Maccabi, who lay third in the standings at the start of play, having won their last four matches, continued their good momentum and were soon in the lead when Rave Asayag slotted home in the fifth minute after latching on to a cross from the right by Omri Ram.

Maccabi had at least three more good chances to score in the first half, but on two occasions shots went close, and Haifa had their goalkeeper Sharif Kayuf to thank for keeping the ball out.

A few more second-half chances for Maccabi failed to find the target, while an extended period of play failed to yield and significant assaults on either goal.

Maccabi finally found the net for a second time two minutes into injury time when substitute Shaked Navon shot unmarked at goal and the ball took a deflection off a Haifa defender to beat Kayuf in goal.

Haifa then had time for a last-gasp consolation strike when Ilai Hajaj got hold of a loose ball let go by Maccabi ‘keeper Ben Musayof and rolled the ball home just before the final whistle sounded.

Youth league action returns on Saturday after a three-week layoff and the with a clash against “Classico” rivals Maccabi Haifa in the tenth round of action in Ness Ziona, Maccabi’s home ground, kickoff at noon.

Four consecutive wins has Maccabi going into the match in buoyant mood and third in the standings, six points off the pace, but it won’t be easy against league leaders Haifa, who have won eight and drawn once this season.

U17, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded” will play away at Ra’anana kickoff at 08:30 at the northern park in Ra’anana in the ninth round of action. Maccabi are second in the standings in what is expected to be a tight clash against the hosts, who are in fourth place and are the only unbeaten team in the division.

U16, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” host Bnei Yehuda at Kiryat Shalom in the 13th round of action. Maccabi lead the division and have won their last six matches, while Bnei Yehuda are in seventh place in the league.

U15, Maccabi “Eldad” host Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem at 08:30 on the synthetic pitch at Kiryat Shalom in the eighth round. Maccabi are fourth in the division, while Katamon are in 13th position with only one win to their name so far.

Youth league action returns on Saturday after a three-week layoff and the stakes couldn’t be higher with a clash against “Classico” rivals Maccabi Haifa in the tenth round of action to be hosted at Ness Ziona.

Four consecutive wins has Maccabi going into the match in buoyant mood and in third place in the standings six points off the pace, but it won’t be easy against league leaders Haifa, who have won eight and drawn once this season.

“Matches against Haifa are always interesting, this is the classic rivalry among the youth teams and over the years there has been healthy competition between the clubs through all age groups,” Ben Aharon told us.

“Haifa started the league well and we didn’t, though we have improved more recently and we are in the ascendency,” he added.

Ben Aharon said that victory was definitely the aim on Saturday and he was confident in achieving it.

“We want to inflict a first defeat of the season on Maccabi Haifa and close the gap to three points, we believe in our ability and get the win,” Ben Aharon said.

Preparations for the game have been like against any other team and Haifa’s weak points are going to be the key to get the win, although with so much of the season still ahead, nothing is concluded at this early stage, said the coach.

Five Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy players, Ariel Belson, Amit Kodman, Aner Oshmandi, Elad Kaplan and Dor Turjeman, are currently playing with the national team at the UEFA Under-17 Championship in Ireland.

Israel began the event with a 1-0 win over Montenegro in their group on Tuesday. They will face Andorra on Friday and conclude with a clash against hosts Ireland on Monday.