 The action gets under way in Israel this weekend | |
Israeli duo set to dominate
Friday, 20 August 2004
For the first time in three years, the Israeli season will get under way on its scheduled start day tomorrow. What is constant, however, is that the two clubs representing the country in the UEFA Champions League, Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, will again be the teams to beat.
Leading pair
The duo are in a class of their own on the pitch and financially, a gulf which will widen should they advance to the group stage. The Tel-Avivians have all but sealed their place at Europe's top table, having been awarded a default 3-0 victory against PAOK FC, while Haifa's tie against Rosenborg BK is more finely poised following a 2-1 loss in Norway.
Air of optimism
Those results, coupled with the lifting of the ban on home matches in Israel for all UEFA competitions, ensure optimism is high for the resumption of domestic football. However, the trend towards foreign signings continued over the summer, with Roni Levy - who guided Haifa to the title in his first season at the club last term - acquiring three Brazilians and an Argentinian. Long-serving Croatian Giovani Rosso completes the maximum quintet of foreigners.
Coincidence
Levy has also landed Najwan Grayeb from last term's third-placed team, Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC, and the Maccabi Netanya FC pair of Ori Uzan and Ravid Gazal. Like last season, Haifa open their campaign against Beitar Jerusalem FC - the corresponding fixture 12 months ago resulting in a 4-0 success for the eventual champions.
New faces
Maccabi Tel-Aviv coach Nir Klinger doubled his Brazilian contingent with Mauricio Giovanini, the South American joining fellow recruits Ishmael Addo from Ghana and Nigerian defender Ibrahim N'dalla at the Ramat Gan. Their first opponents, UEFA Cup qualifiers Petah-Tikva, will be hard to beat despite the sale of Salim Tuamah and departure of Avi Tikva.
Home from home
Israel's other UEFA Cup entrants, cup winners Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC, tackle Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC, who failed to progress from the UEFA Intertoto Cup. As Sakhnin, the first Arab side to play in Europe, are still without a stadium, they will continue to play at Ilut near Nazareth. Gili Landau takes charge of Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC for the first time against Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC on Sunday.
Upwardly mobile
Four years ago, Hapoel Nazareth FC owner Nouriel Abchalom vowed to take his club from the third division to the Premier League inside five years. They did it in four and on Sunday play their maiden top-flight match against FC Ashdod. Nazareth, whose ground is yet to be approved by the Israel Football Association, will regard survival as a success.
Administration
Elsewhere, the ongoing saga of Hapoel Haifa FC's sale is yet to be resolved, meaning the second promoted side are in administration for a second successive campaign. The 1999/00 champions are relegation favourites but will hope to get off to a flying start at Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC's new home at Bloomfield stadium on Monday. | 
