Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy has stopped operating in their regular mode because of the coronavirus pandemic but the players and the coaching staff are continuing to work independently from home much with the help of video communications. The person responsible for ensuring that everybody keeps in touch is Eliel Horovitz, the manager of the club’s youth teams.

Horovitz came to Israel from Argentina at age six and has always been surrounded in football. Although he was never a player, he knew that he would have a career in the Beautiful Game which he loves dearly. Before coming to Maccabi, he was involved in football TV production and at a player agency. He has qualified as a coach and holds a UEFA-A licence.

“I have been a Maccabi fan ever since I started watching football, and I remember Avi Nimni wearing a bandage around his head, although I can’t remember if that is accurate, it has remained etched in my mind,” Horovitz said. He jumped at the opportunity to work for Maccabi after four previous years’ of involvement in football, “I didn’t have to think twice when the opportunity arose,” he said.

“(Maccabi Tel Aviv) is the best place in Israel to advance and to learn about the job,” he added. Horovitz began as a coach with youngsters and had great success, and after a season, he was offered a position on the administrative side to manage the club’s youth teams.

Among his responsibilities are ensuring that all the elements among the youth outfits, the coaching staff and players, know what they are supposed to do and when. Horovitz is in charge of creating schedules as befits a club with the aspirations and size of Maccabi Tel Aviv. It can involve ensuring that players who have recently been drafted into the military receive the help to secure time off for training and matches, and looking after foreign players and ensuring they are welcomed and made to feel at home.

“It’s very hard to define the role in a narrow sense, as it involves many aspects, and I have to be ready to respond to any situation that may arise at any time. That is never easy when you work for a large club like Maccabi.”

With the players and coaches currently confined to their homes because of the cornonavirus outbreak, the club faces a previously unknown challenge. Horovitz is in the same predicament as everybody else.

“The past days and most likely the coming weeks will be particularly tough for everybody. This is certainly true in our field too. We have all been operating under strict rules from day one and we are passing on instructions to the players about their need to behave responsibly while continuing to train as much as possible and at the same time, keep up their morale. The fitness coaches are in continual contact with the players and are monitoring their health situation so that they can carry out their fitness training alone at home. Let’s hope that this situation will be as short as is feasibly possible.”

Horovitz is the one charged with ensuring that the younger players know the rules that will help them in the future. “I’m the ‘bad policeman’ who keeps constant watch to ensure that the players are following instructions, are carrying out their tasks and are behaving correctly and in line with what the club expects of them. It is important for the players to set an example as befits Maccabi Tel Aviv, and as individuals.”

Horovitz is also the go-to guy to assist the players and sort out problems. “Balancing between the two roles is what the job is all about,” he says.

On a personal level, Horovitz says that the challenges of the job are a constant learning experience and he’s improving day to day in everything he does.

“There is a lot of pressure and things change all the time. It’s different to anything else I have known in a normal job, but working at a place I believe in and am proud of makes it a calling. I know I want to give more of myself and improve.”

While he looks ahead, for the foreseeable future, Horovitz still sees himself in the role for at least the coming year, because making longer-term plans are irrelevant, he said.

And while he continues to develop in the role, he doesn’t forget the fun side of the job and the importance of keeping a smile and laughing “because without the humour, there wouldn’t be much point in choosing such a profession.”

The coronavirus outbreak has forced the suspension of all sporting activity throughout the country and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s U16 team are affected just like everybody else, but they are doing their best to keep in shape with a home training programme devised by the Academy’s coaching staff.

Four of the boys have talked about how they view the situation in these unusual times.

Eliran Gomelsky, goalkeeper, 16, is a Manchester City fan and enjoys the way they play a high attacking game. Gomelsky follows German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and hopes that in 10 years’ time he will be playing in England after taking on the mantle of Maccabi’s first-choice man between the posts.

Adir Cordoba, full back, 16, enjoys playing with a ball on the beach and listening to music. He admires Bayern Munich’s style and says: “They do their best to crush the opposition in every game.” He admires Everton’s Yerry Mina and says he has “worked hard to get to where he is today.” Adir also hopes to be play for the national team and lead them to great achievements.

Roei Nawi, midfielder and captain, 16, is a fan of Luka Modric, whom he says is “always calm on the ball and contributes so much in defence and in attack.” He also admires coach Jurgen Klopp and hopes that in 10 years’ time he will captain the Maccabi first team and become a significant national team player.

Amit Tzur, forward, 15.5, likes all kinds of sports but says: “Thanks to football, I understand so many other types of sport and how to play in the best possible way.” He enjoys watching Brazil and feels he has been able to learn something from the play of the best wingers in the world. “I have observed their movement and style of play and try
to copy that in my actions.”

Gomelsky said that he greatly misses being able to play at the moment. “It’s something that I do every day, and I think about it all the time, so the feeling of being unable to play for a while is very strange and is not good.”

Cordoba also said that “It’s very sad. For me, football is not only a hobby or a game, it has become a way of life.”

The players are managing to keep active and Nawi said that he and his teammates were following the Youth Academy training programme at home.

Tzur, who plays up front, said that he feels he’s managed to improve from one session to
the next, not only in soccer but in discipline, quick thinking and teamwork.

Gomelsky said: ” I am learning to cope with pressure and how to confront situations when things are not going well when you know you have to soldier on. It strengthens me not only in play, but in my daily life.”

Cordoba talked of the additional early morning training sessions that the Academy has added recently and said: “I believe that these sessions are the most significant of the week because it is when we are most focused and when we can work on our individual
tasks and shortcomings.

Nawi said the players were lucky to receive preferential treatment which “allows each player to progress according to the needs defined by his position in the team lineup. He also said that having two coaches was a “huge advantage.

Tzur said the additional off-pitch activities such as video review and mental training were having a big influence in play too. “Physical training helps prevent injuries and increase our playing ability, but being able to review our performance after the event helps us realise how we might have performed and how to avoid difficult situations.”

Due to Health Ministry orders, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy is suspending all its training activities at all sites until at least Saturday.
The office will be available to answer queries over the phone (03-6806169) between 10:00-12:00, Sunday to Thursday.

The Israel Football Association has ordered the immediate cancellation of all youth and junior games as part of national efforts to try to reduce the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and no tentative date has yet been proposed for a resumption of activities.

Israel Football Association Chairman Oren Hasson said in a statement: “Our decision was taken because we view the safety of coaches, club officials, players and the general public with utmost importance. We had hoped to be able to continue to hold matches despite the challenging situation but we must act responsibly in line with the national interest and also take heed of the calls from worried parents.
This has been a painful decision but we will convene in the near future with health officials to consider our next steps with the hope that we will be able to resume normal activities as soon as possible.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s under-19s drew 1-1 with host Ramat Hasharon on Saturday in league action and required an equaliser for a share of the points despite controlling much of the action.

The hosts were first on the score sheet when Tal Yagodiev received a good through-ball and he slotted home past Maccabi ‘keeper Ben Musayof. Maccabi “Shahar” then levelled in the 70th minute when Parfait Guiagon completed a good 1-2 move with Rave Asayag before the Cote d’Ivoire player rolled the ball in for the equaliser and a share of the points.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded” 2, Ironi Nesher 1: U17registered an important home win in the 20th round of their division through second-half goals by Dor Turgeman and Uri Halevy that kept them top of the standings. Nesher reduced the arrears in the 70th minute and ten minutes later they had a penalty, but it was well saved by Roei Amedi in the Maccabi goal.

Hapoel Ramat Gan 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eldad” 3: First half goals by Osher Bruchim and Roey Zerzevsky and another in the second half by Agam Hanoun did the damage for U15. Ramat Gan got a consolation goal in the dying seconds.

U16 did not have a fixture this Saturday.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s under-19s drew 1-1 with host Ramat Hasharon on Saturday in league action and required an equaliser for a share of the points despite controlling much of the action.

The hosts were first on the scoresheet after both sides had earlier missed the target when in the 26th minute, Tal Yagodiev received a good through-ball and he slotted home past Maccabi ‘keeper Ben Musayof.

Ramat Hasharon came close to scoring a second in the 34th minute but were denied by Musayof’s crossbar.

Maccabi increased the pressure in the second period and after a couple of opportunities, they finally levelled the score in the 70th minute when Parfait Guiagon completed a good 1-2 move with Rave Asayag before the Cote d’Ivoire player rolled the ball in for the equaliser.

Riding the momentum, Maccabi might have had a second goal within a minute, but Asayag headed wide.

Nadav Nidam, who came on as substitute, had a good shot saved in the 78th, and just before the end, Poraz Velkovich, the Ramat Hasharon ‘keeper, did well to save another dangerous shot, this time from Ronen Hanchis.

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar” will play away to Hapoel Ramat Hasharon on Saturday at noon in the 23rd round of action of the under-19 youth league and will look to repeat the success from their previous meeting this season when they won 3-0.

U17 division leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded” host Ironi Nesher at Kiryat Shalom at 11:00 in the 20th round of action, a clash between the top and bottom sides in the division. Nesher have managed only two wins this season and won’t want a repeat of their 5-1 drubbing in their first meeting.

U15 will be away to Hapoel Ramat Gan at the Hashikma ground at 14:30 in the 20th round of their division. Maccabi Tel Aviv “Eldad” are fourth in the standings, their hosts are in 13th spot. Again, Maccabi’s boys will look for another win against their opponents to back up their 5-0 victory the last time they met.

U16 are not in action this weekend.

Hapoel Rishon Lezion registered a big upset on Saturday by beating their hosts, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar,” 3-1 in Ness Ziona in under-19 league action. Maccabi, second in the standings, were the favourites going into the clash against their opponents, who are 14th in the division.

Adir Rothstein scored twice and Mohammed Bamba once for Rishon while Tal Torgeman hit the target for Maccabi.

Hosts Hapoel Haifa beat Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded” 2-0 at Kiryat Haim but Maccabi’s U17 side remain at the top of their division after 19 rounds of play, two points ahead of Hapoel Tel Aviv.

U16 were hosted by Hapoel Raanana and drew 1-1 in the 21st round of their division to remain second in the standings, seven points off the pace. Oscar Gloch scored for Maccabi “Eli Fuchs.”

U15, playing at home, were involved in a high-scoring draw with Maccabi Haifa in the 19th round of action. They led 4-2 with only minutes to go, but two injury time goals by Haifa saw share of the points. Maccabi’s goals were scored by Roey Zerzevsky, Maor Ben Nun, Agam Hanoun and Osher Bruchim.

Hapoel Rishon Lezion registered a big upset on Saturday by beating their hosts, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar,” 3-1 in Ness Ziona in under-19 league action.

Maccabi, second in the standings, were the favourites going into the clash against their opponents, who are 14th in the division.

Rishon scored in the fifth minute through a long range strike by Adir Rothstein. The visitors might have scored a second goal within three minutes through Mohammed Bamba, but Maccabi were saved by the post.

Maccabi made a great effort to get back on level terms soon afterwards but were unable to find the target on a number of occasions.

Rishon got their second goal in the 75th minute from a corner when Bamba was on hand to tap in from close range.

Maccabi finally scored in the 90th minute when Tal Torgeman struck a volley, but any hope they might have had of levelling the score as they tried to push forward for the equaliser were undone in the dying seconds when Rothstein sealed the result with his second goal of the match.