Maccabi Tel Aviv won its 58th championship on Tuesday after beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1 in the playoff final derby. The club’s longtime chairman, Shimon Mizrahi, said on Wednesday night on 103FM that the title was especially meaningful because the team had been playing away from its home arena for almost three years and reached the final stages with only eight players available, including four injured Israelis and three key absentees.
Responding to remarks by Ofer Yannay, who claimed Mizrahi and Ami Biton were allowed to do things he was not, Mizrahi said, “There is not a shred of truth in it,” and added, “It is not worth dwelling on it.” He also spoke warmly about coach Oded Katash, calling the championship “very special” for him and praising his experience, tactical system, and ability to place each player in the right role despite having to improvise while other teams had full rosters.
Looking ahead to next season’s EuroLeague, Mizrahi told fans that Maccabi would do everything possible to build a worthy team. He said the competition has changed significantly, with clubs that were once close to collapse now strengthening into serious teams, making the challenge harder but not changing Maccabi’s commitment. He also addressed Maccabi Tel Aviv’s football side, noting that although it did not win the league title, it did win the cup against Hapoel Tel Aviv, and he defended the appointment of Keni Miller as a fitting one, praising his attacking, attractive style of play.
