Even the leaders of Maccabi Jaffa did not think that at the end of January they would be in fourth place in the national league if there is not a bad chance at all to fight to the end for promotion to the Premier League.
The budget of the Hippos, which reaches about 10 million shekels, is considered a respectable budget in the second league, but it is still far from the leaders Kiryat Shmona, Tiberias and Bnei Yehuda.
"What is special about our team is a strong and high-quality dressing room that is built of incredible human material. This, in my eyes, is the key to our success," says coach David Marten to Israel Hayom.
Do you believe that you will fight for aliya despite the budget gap from the big ones?
"Everybody here pushes each other towards the goal every day, that's what makes the difference for us. I have a lot of faith in my players and I'm sure we'll fight until the end."
The top national team will meet Maccabi Ahi Nazareth tonight (Thursday, 19:30) in the 8th round of the State Cup.
On paper, this is an easy game for Jaffa against a team that is floundering at the bottom of League A, but there are no easy games in the cup, especially when it comes to an away game in Ilot.
"It's not a simple away game," Marten doesn't shake his head.
"We take into account that the conditions of the field and the weather are going to make it difficult for us to develop the football we want to play, so we will make adjustments. The cup factory is very important to all of us and we will come with all our strength in order to pass a stage."
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"The preparation is the same preparation against teams from the National League or League A," explains the Hipoi coach, "in the previous stage we passed Ra'anana, which also competes in League A, and we know that in order to pass we have to come prepared and 100 percent committed."
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