Masai Dago Cautions Against Overrating Toto Cup Win as Hapoel Ramat Gan Opens Season Strong

Hapoel Ramat Gan began the 2026/27 season positively with a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Toto Cup on July 29. Following the match, both teams' coaches, Masai Dago of Hapoel Ramat Gan and Omer Peretz of Hapoel Petah Tikva, shared their perspectives on the game and their expectations for the upcoming Premier League season.

Omer Peretz acknowledged the team's defensive weaknesses and the challenge players face in maintaining performance over consecutive games. He emphasized that the Toto Cup results are not indicative of league performance, describing these matches as preparatory. Peretz also revealed plans to strengthen the squad with three to four new signings, including a foreign defender, an attacker, and a midfielder, while expressing satisfaction with the current players and retained foreign players.

Masai Dago, celebrating his first win of the season, stressed the importance of not being dazzled by the Toto Cup victory, calling it a preparatory competition. He praised Hapoel Petah Tikva as a well-coached team and expressed his eagerness for the Premier League season, noting the higher quality of players in the top clubs. Dago highlighted the need for additional experienced Israeli players and suitable foreign signings to bolster the team for a challenging season ahead.

Players who scored and contributed, such as Shavit Mazal and Maksim Plakuschenko, expressed optimism about their performances and hopes for a successful season. The coaches and players alike acknowledged the need for improvement and adaptation as the league season approaches.