Maccabi Haifa Prepares for League Opener with Friendly and Player Updates

Maccabi Haifa is gearing up for their league match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday. Without their national team representatives, the team will play a preparation game on Tuesday against Hapoel Kfar Saba, with whom they have a cooperative relationship. Several players, including Daniel Derzi, Moran Vaheb, Shiral Cohen, and Adi Tzur, were loaned to Maccabi Haifa from the National League this summer. Shachar Weizinger was appointed coach with the approval of both parties, but was dismissed by Kfar Saba's management.

Coach Barak Bakhar will be without Eitan Azulai, Omri Glazer, Yarin Levy, Kangi Gura, Ali Muhammad, Iyad Hallaili, Noam Steifman, Navot Ratner, Liam Lossky, Mark Golankov, and Arad Geist, who have not yet returned from national team duty. Adam Grimberg, however, is expected to play after being dropped from the youth national team by Ofir Haim. Goalkeeper Omer Niron, who joined on loan from Maccabi Netanya and underwent shoulder surgery in January, is also anticipated to get playing time. If he performs well in the friendly, he is expected to be included in the squad for the match against Hapoel Jerusalem.