Maccabi Haifa Defender "Tsunamí" Nears Return After Muscle Sensitivity

Maccabi Haifa's new defender, known as "Tsunamí," is set to rejoin team training and will be available for coach Barak Bakhar in the upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem. The Brazilian player, signed this summer, initially played as a left-back but showed more promise at center-back. He started at left center-back alongside Nigel Boakye in the team's only league game where they kept a clean sheet, also scoring a goal.

Tsunamí was expected to start in the subsequent match against Ironi Tiberias but reported muscle sensitivity. The coaching staff opted not to risk him, and he was sidelined. He will now gradually return to full training.

Coach Bakhar faces a decision on whether to immediately reinstate Tsunamí into the starting lineup or continue with the current defensive partnership of Boakye and Noam Steifman.

In other club news, Maccabi Haifa players celebrated the wedding of teammate Eitan Azulay to Hila. Azulay is now set to join the Israel national team for the remainder of the Nations League window.