Hapoel will take off today (Tuesday) for an 11-day training camp in Poland, during which the team will play four friendly matches. All the details are in the article below

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will take a step forward in its preparations for the 2025/26 season as the team heads to a training camp in the town of Siedlce, Poland, located about 100 kilometers from Warsaw, between the dates 8–18/7.

Hapoel’s training sessions will be held at the modern Siedlce Sports Centre, considered one of the premier athletic facilities in the region. The complex includes a natural grass stadium, synthetic pitches, a professional indoor arena, fully equipped gyms, and excellent recovery amenities—such as a swimming pool and sauna. These high-quality conditions will allow the squad to focus on physical, tactical, and mental preparation at the highest level ahead of the upcoming season.

 

During the camp, Hapoel will play four friendly matches:

Facts and figures:

This marks the eighth time in club history that Hapoel will hold its preseason training camp in Poland. In the previous seven camps, the team played 20 friendly matches, earning 12 wins, 6 draws, and only 2 losses, with a goal difference of 37 scored and 15 conceded.
Last summer, Hapoel played three friendlies in Poland, winning two and drawing the third 2-2.

This year, Hapoel will face four opponents from three different countries during the camp. The first match will be against Polish side Gornik Leczna, followed by a game against Neptunas Klaipeda from Lithuania. The third match will be against another Polish club, Motor Lublin, and the final match will be played against Neftchi Baku from Azerbaijan.

Throughout its history, Hapoel has faced Polish clubs 21 times—19 friendlies and 2 official matches in the UEFA Europa League. The club’s first-ever encounter with a Polish team was in 1937, when Hapoel defeated Pogoń Lwów 2-0. In friendlies against Polish opposition, the Reds have recorded 12 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, with a goal tally of 36:17 in Hapoel’s favor.

In official competition, Hapoel played Legia Warsaw twice in Group C of the 2011/12 Europa League. In the first leg (29/09/2011), Hapoel lost 3-2 in Poland despite goals by Toto Tamuz (34’) and Maharan Lala (79’). In the return leg (15/12/2011), the Reds earned a 2-0 victory at Bloomfield Stadium thanks to goals by Salim Toama (33’) and Avihai Yadin (76’).

Hapoel has faced Neftchi Baku once before in a training camp match ahead of the 2006/07 season, winning 3-2 with goals from Ivan Jolić, Bibras Natcho, and Kfir Udi.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Hapoel and a Lithuanian club in a training camp match.

About the Opponents:

Gornik Leczna (Poland)
Founded in 1979, Górnik Łęczna has spent most of its history in Poland’s lower divisions. The club's highest finish came in the 2004/05 season, placing seventh in the premier league. Last season, they finished ninth in Poland’s second division. The squad is primarily composed of local players.

Neptunas Klaipeda (Lithuania)
A relatively new club founded just five years ago, Neptunas competes in Lithuania’s second division. They finished fourth in the 2024/25 season. The team features mainly local players, with additional reinforcements from countries including Japan, Nigeria, and Ukraine.

Motor Lublin (Poland)
Established in 1950, Motor Lublin has mostly played in the second division and has yet to win a major title. They made one appearance in the Intertoto Cup in 1982. Last season, the club finished seventh in the Polish top division (Ekstraklasa). In addition to local players, the squad includes footballers from Spain, Germany, Senegal, Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan)
One of the leading clubs in Azerbaijan, Neftchi Baku was founded in 1937 and is based in the capital city. The team has won 9 domestic championships and 6 national cups. Last season, Neftchi Bakui finished a disappointing 6th out of 10 teams. Their multinational squad includes players from Benin, Brazil, Senegal, Montenegro, Japan, Paraguay, and Sierra Leone.

The 20-year-old winger, who was named Breakthrough Player of the Season: "Proud to sign with a big club, grateful for the trust in me and can't wait to get started."

Mor Buskila has signed with the club for four years.

Buskila (20) played last season for the senior team of Hapoel Ramat Gan and was named the Breakthrough Player of the Season in the National League, thanks to seven goals and eight assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. This past March, he made his debut for the Olympic national team in a friendly match against Cyprus.

After signing, Buskila said: "I’m proud and excited to sign with a big club like Hapoel Tel Aviv. From the very first moment, I felt how much the club believes in me and wants me to play here. I can’t wait for the first training session and to meet our amazing fans in the stadiums. Yalla Hapoel!"

Good luck, Mor!

Wiesinger to lead the club’s oldest youth team: “I see the determination, the renewal, and the ambition – I have no doubt this is the right place for me.”

Shahar Wiesinger is joining Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth department and will coach the club’s oldest youth team (U19).

Wiesinger, 29, began his coaching career in the youth department of Maccabi Haifa, serving as assistant coach for the U16, U17, and U19 teams.

In the 2021/22 season, he was appointed assistant coach of the senior team at Hapoel Afula in the National League. Later that year, he was promoted to head coach and led the team to stay in the league. The following season, he continued to lead the northern club, finishing second in the bottom playoff and reaching the quarterfinals of the State Cup.

For the past two years, Shahar served as assistant coach for the senior team of Maccabi Haifa.

After signing, Wiesinger said:
“I’m happy to join one of the biggest clubs in Israel, a club known for developing young players. My growth in recent years has been as a coach in senior teams, but as soon as I received the offer to coach Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth team, I saw the determination, the renewal, and the desire to grow – and I had no doubt this is the right place for me.”

Omer Buksanbaum, the club’s Technical Director:
“I’m happy that Shahar is joining us. We were looking for a coach who fits the club’s values and our professional vision, and Shahar is undoubtedly that person. He’s a talented coach with significant experience in developing young players, and I’m confident that just as he’s done elsewhere – he’ll do the same at Hapoel Tel Aviv. I wish him great success, welcome him to the red family, and look forward to working together.”

Assaf Grinstein, Head of Youth Development:
“We’re pleased to appoint Shahar Wiesinger as head coach of our U19 team. Shahar brings with him extensive experience in coaching both youth and senior teams, and I’m sure the knowledge and expertise he’s gained will help our players in the club’s top youth age group develop and advance – and eventually integrate into the senior team as well. Our ultimate goal remains to continue promoting young players into the senior squad, as we’ve done in recent years – and we’ll provide them with everything they need to succeed.”

Good luck, Shahar!

The 27-year-old striker strengthens the attacking line: "I'm happy that the wheel of life has turned in my favor. I promise to give my blood for our amazing fans".

Striker Anas Mahamid has signed with the club on a three-year deal.

Mahamid (27) joined the club’s youth team in the summer of 2015 and simultaneously made 15 appearances for the senior team over a season and a half. He later played for Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Acre, Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam, Winterthur in Switzerland, Shimshon Kafr Qasim, and Hapoel Umm al-Fahm.

Over the past two years, he played for Maccabi Petah Tikva, where he made 61 appearances across all competitions and scored 14 goals.

After signing, Mahamid said: "Life is like a wheel, and I’m very happy that this time it turned in my favor. I’m thrilled to come full circle and return to the club that’s close to my heart, where I began my senior career about ten years ago. I’m already counting the minutes and can’t wait to step onto the pitch at Bloomfield in front of our amazing fans. I promise to give my blood for them and make them happy and proud. Yalla Hapoel!"

Good luck, Anas!

The left-back returns to his boyhood club: "Excited to come back, I truly believe we're heading toward a good season."

Left-back Doron Leidner is coming home on a one-year contract, with a purchase option from Olympiacos at the end of the season. Doron will wear jersey number 16.

Leidner (23) joined Hapoel from Maccabi Petah Tikva at the U-16 level and has since played for all of the club's youth teams. He made his debut for the senior team in May 2020, in a 2–1 win over Maccabi Haifa – and went on to play in all matches that season (11 in all competitions).

In the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, he was a key player for the team, making 55 appearances across all competitions, scoring once and providing five assists.

In the summer of 2022, Leidner was sold to Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. After half a year, he was loaned to Austria Wien, where he made 10 appearances, scoring and assisting once. In the past season, he was loaned again from Olympiacos, this time to Swiss club FC Zurich, where he made five appearances for the first team.

Additionally, he has made eight appearances for Israel’s senior national team and nine for the Olympic team.

After signing, Leidner said: "There’s no one more excited than me to return to the club where I grew up. Even when I played elsewhere, I always felt connected to Hapoel. I was moved by the many messages I received from fans – and the great love I got from them is one of the reasons I came back. I truly believe we’re heading into a good and successful season. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Doron!

The Congolese center-back will lead the defensive line: “I’m here to help the team achieve its ambitious goals and can’t wait to play for our amazing fans”.

Center-back Fernand Mayembo has signed with the club for two years and will wear jersey number 5.

Mayembo (29) played for Hapoel Haifa over the past two seasons, making 62 appearances in all competitions — and was one of the league’s standout defenders last season.

He began his senior career at Chamois Niortais in France’s Ligue 2. In January 2017, he was loaned to Grenoble, where he continued for another season before transferring to Le Havre, also in Ligue 2, where he played for four years and made 91 appearances in all competitions.

In the summer of 2022, he signed with AC Ajaccio in France’s Ligue 1, making 11 appearances in the top flight.

He has also earned 18 caps for the Congo national team.

After signing, Mayembo said: “I’m very happy to join Hapoel Tel Aviv, a massive club in Israeli football. I’ve heard a lot about the club’s history and saw firsthand the power of our amazing fans - I can’t wait to start playing for them. I’ve come to help the team achieve its ambitious goals, and I’m confident we’re heading into a successful season. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Fernand!

One of the top goalkeepers in the Israeli Premier League joins the squad – and will guard Hapoel’s goal: “I come with full commitment and a strong desire to be part of the club’s return to the main stage.”

Goalkeeper Assaf Tzur has signed with the club for two years, with an option for an additional season, and will guard the team’s goal starting from the upcoming season.

Tzur (26) played the past three seasons at Ironi Kiryat Shmona. In his second season, he helped the team gain promotion to the Premier League, and in the third season (2024/25), he was one of the league’s standout goalkeepers, making 29 appearances, saving 126 shots on target (the most in the league), and keeping nine clean sheets.

Tzur came up through the youth ranks at Hapoel Petah Tikva, and in the 2016/17 season moved to Hapoel Ra’anana, where he initially played for the youth team – but also made two senior appearances that season. Over the next three years, he was the starting goalkeeper for the Sharon-based team in the Israeli Premier League, making 79 appearances in all competitions. At the start of the 2021/22 season, he transferred to Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus, where he played for two seasons and made 18 appearances.

After signing, Assaf said: “I’m happy and excited to join Hapoel Tel Aviv. I come with full commitment and a strong desire to be part of the club’s return to the main stage of the Premier League – and I can’t wait to start the season, meet the fans and my new teammates. Yalla Hapoel!”

Good luck, Assaf!