Maccabi Ashdod Coach Dan Katzir Focused on Winning, Not Age

Maccabi Ashdod is returning to the Israeli Premier League after a six-season absence, with Dan Katzir set to lead the team as head coach. This marks Katzir's first season coaching in the top tier of Israeli basketball.

In an interview with Sport Channel, Katzir, who will celebrate his 34th birthday in three days, addressed his age, stating, "There have been precedents. I don't deal with my age or the age of others. I have a team, a group of people here that I need to lead to victories." He emphasized the team's focus on winning and hard work to achieve that goal, also expressing a need for fan support.

Katzir described the team's current stage, about a week into training, as a period of learning and getting to know each other professionally and personally. He acknowledged the significant challenge ahead, with the first official game approaching quickly. The team views the remaining time as preparation, focusing on making adjustments, building team cohesion, and preparing for immediate competition.

Regarding aspirations, Katzir stated the goal is to train as effectively as possible and approach every game as if it were a cup final or championship decider. He aims to rally the city and its fans behind the team. Katzir expressed satisfaction with the team's roster, which he described as having "everything," including players at various stages of their careers, from the beginning to the end, and those who are pre-peak, peak, or post-peak. The players were recruited from diverse backgrounds and locations worldwide, contributing to the desired human diversity within the squad.