Maccabi Haifa to Give Young Winger Iyad Khalili a Chance This Season

Maccabi Haifa is preparing for its upcoming Toto Cup ranking match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Monday, followed by the Premier League season opener against Hapoel Ramat Gan on Saturday. Head coach Barak Bachar plans to field a strong lineup similar to the one used against the club's youth team, including forwards Manuel Benson, Silva Kani, and Kenji Hura, with Nigel Lodewijk and Tsunami in central defense.

A key development is the decision to keep young winger Iyad Khalili, 20, who impressed the coaching staff after returning from a loan spell at Maccabi Bnei Reineh. Khalili, who has played on both wings and as a right back, is expected to remain in the squad and receive significant playing opportunities this season rather than being loaned out again.

Meanwhile, new signing Andrea Novakovic will not be registered for the upcoming matches due to a roster complication involving Peter Agaba, who still occupies a foreign player slot. Additionally, goalkeeper Omer Nir'on, recently acquired from Maccabi Netanya and having completed medical tests, will be officially presented today and join team training soon. Nir'on is expected to serve as a backup to Amri Glazer.

These roster moves reflect Maccabi Haifa's strategy to strengthen its squad depth ahead of the new season while integrating promising young talent into the first team.