Just three years after their founding, the soccer team from the Haifa neighborhood is recording a chapter of pride and inspiration.
(live here) – Haifa Pride: The Maccabi Kabbabir (Academic) football club, established only three years ago, records a historic achievement and qualifies for League B. For the residents of the neighborhood and the entire city, this is a moment of triumph of spirit, perseverance, and faith.
The team finished the season in League C in second place, and qualified for the district playoffs. In the decisive final held at the Illut Stadium, last Friday, 9/5/25, it met Bnei Qalanswa in a direct battle for the ticket to League B. After an even first half, the long-awaited change came: in the 57th minute, Emam Mari scored the first goal, and in the 71st minute, Omar Mahaja secured the victory with another goal. The final score – 0:2 – sent the excited crowd in the stands into unforgettable celebrations.
The promotion to League B is not only a sporting achievement, but also the story of a community that believes in the power of dreams. The team's success is the result of dedicated teamwork by the management, professional staff, players, fans, and everyone who supported and believed along the way.
With the players' return to the Kabavir neighborhood, the entire neighborhood turned into one big celebration. Residents, families, and fans poured into the streets, waving flags, and celebrating until the wee hours of the night.
The Kabavir children have proven that anything is possible, even from a small neighborhood in the heart of Haifa, and have inspired a new generation of young athletes. There is no doubt that this is just the beginning of an exciting journey.
An extraordinary sense of pride
In a conversation with Lipa, Fadi Zidane, a member of the Kababir club's management, assistant coach, and well-known player in the National League and the Premier League, shared his feelings after the victory and his team's impressive achievement: "This is not just another victory or another title, this is much more than that. The feeling is different from a normal win. It's an extraordinary sense of pride, because not only did the team win, but the entire neighborhood where I grew up was all proud. It's a sublime feeling."
According to him, the win is the result of hard work and full dedication: "We managed to make a dream come true. All of us, the club's management, the players, the coach and the entire community, have joined forces for the cause. The management, which includes the owner and Yame Zidan, board members Muaid Elbash, Tamer Odeh, Hashem Odeh and myself, have invested many resources, both financial and personal.
"We received broad support from the neighborhood residents, whose love, donations, and unwavering encouragement accompanied us throughout the entire process. Coach Nazia Odeh did an amazing job with the players, and we are proud of the result. The feeling is great, no one could be happier than us."
Zidane proudly notes the club's structure, which continues to grow: "Our club currently has a youth and children's department with about 350 young players (established 10 years ago), as well as a high-level senior team (established three years ago). We aim to reach the playoffs and be at the top of League B. As they say, the sky is the limit."