Masai Dego Cautions Against Overrating Toto Cup Win as Hapoel Ramat Gan Starts Season Strong

Hapoel Ramat Gan opened the 2026/27 season with a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Toto Cup on Wednesday. Both teams' coaches, Masai Dego of Hapoel Ramat Gan and Omer Peretz of Hapoel Petah Tikva, reflected on the match and their expectations ahead of the approaching Premier League season.

Peretz acknowledged his team's defensive weaknesses and the challenge players face in playing consecutive matches, noting the game was more of a training exercise than a league benchmark. He mentioned plans to add three to four new players, including a foreign defender, an attacker, and a midfielder, while expressing satisfaction with the current squad and foreign players retained. He highlighted young talents like Tasa and Noam Cohen but emphasized the need for improvement.

Dego, celebrating his first win of the season, stressed that the Toto Cup is a preparatory competition and cautioned against being dazzled by the victory. He praised Hapoel Petah Tikva as a well-coached team and expressed his eagerness for the Premier League season. Dego pointed out that the best Israeli players are with the top clubs and that his team needs experienced Israeli players and suitable foreign signings to strengthen the squad for a tough season ahead.

Goal scorer Shavit Mazal expressed optimism about starting the season with a goal and hopes to reach double digits. Maxim Plakushchenko also shared confidence in his leadership role and hopes for a successful season. Both coaches and players recognize the Toto Cup as a stepping stone toward the more demanding league competition.

Summary: Hapoel Ramat Gan defeated Hapoel Petah Tikva 2-1 in the Toto Cup opener, with coaches emphasizing the match as preparation rather than a league indicator, while planning squad reinforcements ahead of the Premier League season.