Maccabi Ashdod Prepares for 2026/27 Season with Budget Boost and Key Signings
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Maccabi Ashdod is preparing for its return to Israel's Premier Basketball League in 2026/27, boosting its budget and securing key player signings while enhancing management and planning a new arena.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Ashdod returns to Israel's top basketball league after two years away.
- The club's budget is 8.5 million shekels, aiming to reach 10 million with new investors.
- Key players like MVP Robert Turner and Sean Dawson have signed on for the new season.
- The team seeks two foreign players amid security-related negotiation challenges.
- Noa Konfino became the league's only female team manager, and a new arena is planned.
- The club aims to strengthen its Israeli roster and improve marketing and branding efforts.
Maccabi Ashdod is actively preparing for the 2026/27 basketball season as it returns to Israel's top league after a two-year absence. The team achieved back-to-back promotions last season despite operating with a significantly lower budget than its competitors. Currently, the club's budget stands at 8.5 million shekels, with plans to increase it to 10 million through ongoing talks with potential investors and sponsors.
On the player front, last season's National League MVP Robert Turner has re-signed for another year. Recent signings include Sean Dawson and point guards Omer Ben David and Isaiah Hill. Guard Ziv Weisman joins on loan from Hapoel Emek, and the club exercised its option to retain naturalized player Ben Callahan Gold. Head coach Dan Katzir's team aims to add two foreign players for positions four and five, though security concerns have complicated negotiations. The club also seeks to strengthen its Israeli roster.
Management and organizational developments include the recent appointment of Hagai Segal as spokesperson and Noa Konfino as team manager, making her the only woman in such a role in the Premier League. The coaching staff features Dan Katzir, assistants Eliran Stein and Ofek Goldstein, with Nimrod Tishman recently joining. Marketing and branding efforts are underway alongside plans for a new 5,000-seat arena in Ashdod.
Historically, Maccabi Ashdod competed in the Premier League for ten consecutive seasons from 2010/11 until relegation in 2019/20, reaching the State Cup final in 2016 and the Premier League playoff final in 2012. The club is now focused on solidifying its position in the top tier for the upcoming season.
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