Maccabi Haifa's Foreign Player Dilemma Delays New Signings and Novakovic Debut

Maccabi Haifa resumes preparations on Monday for their Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem at Sammy Ofer Stadium, with fans eagerly awaiting the debut of American-Serbian forward Andrea Novakovic. Novakovic has faced setbacks since arriving in Israel, including a severe viral infection that delayed his training, but he has recently begun showing readiness for playing time.

However, Haifa currently has a full quota of foreign players: Yila Betay, Pedrão, Nigel Lonwijk, Tsunami, Cedric Don, Manuel Benson, Bruninho, and Peter Agba. Agba, who holds offers from clubs in Greece and Russia, is refusing loan moves to those countries as he waits for a more attractive proposal. The club is interested in a team that might purchase him in the future. Agba's continued presence is blocking the registration of Novakovic, thus postponing the forward's debut.

Additionally, Maccabi Haifa hopes that right-back Yila Betay's knee injury, sustained in a match against Bnei Sakhnin, is not serious and that he will be fit for the league's start.