Maccabi Haifa Fields Nigel Lonwijk as Trial Player in Toto Cup Amid Foreign Player Limit

In Maccabi Haifa's Toto Cup match against Ironi Kiryat Shmona, the club utilized a special regulation allowing foreign players to participate as trial players due to an excess of foreign players registered in their squad. Nigel Lonwijk, a defender recently signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and forward Andrej Novakovic played under this status. Although both players are contracted to Haifa, they have not yet been officially registered with the Israeli Football Association because the team already has seven foreign players registered, including Peter Agaba and Pedrao, who are unlikely to continue with the club.

This arrangement enables Haifa to field Lonwijk and Novakovic despite the registration limits. Lonwijk made his debut in the match against Kiryat Shmona and is expected to play again in the upcoming Toto Cup game against Ironi Tiberias. Novakovic, who had not played previously due to illness, will also appear as a trial player. The club plans to release Agaba, likely on loan, and Pedrao is not expected to remain, while Nahuel, another foreign player under contract but unregistered, is also expected to leave.

This bureaucratic approach allows Haifa to integrate their new foreign signings into competitive matches ahead of the regular season, while managing the squad's foreign player quota. Both Lonwijk and Novakovic are confirmed to be part of Maccabi Haifa's plans for the upcoming season.