In a special and exciting event that combines community, society and sports, the traditional commemorative tournament of the Hof Carmel Regional Council Cup games was held this weekend (Friday, 5/29/2026) in Moshav Tserufa in Hof Carmel, for the 25th consecutive time, in memory of the late Yeshayahu (Shaya) Schwager, one of the legends of Israeli football, who was for many years a former player and beloved defender of the Maccabi Haifa team and the Israeli national football team.
This time in the intriguing match it was the home team, the Hof Carmel Veterans team, who demonstrated superiority and dominated throughout the stages of the game. The result of the match The Hof Carmel Veterans defeated the Maccabi Haifa Veterans with a 3:1 victory and at the end of the match they were able to hoist the trophy. During the event, the "Schwager Cup Song" was unveiled, with its premiere performance, lyrics and music by Yoav Assif from the "Haulpania" production house.
Afterwards, the final match for the Council Cup was held, and at the end of the game and with the successful conclusion of the tournament, the Atlit Makar Hadeseh team emerged with the upper hand, defeating the Tserufa team and winning the title of "Holder of the Schwager Cup for the 2025 season."
This year, the Schwaiger Cup is being held for 25 consecutive years and is a carefully planned production year after year, organized by the Sports Department of the Hof Carmel Regional Council, headed by Council Chairman Assaf Isaac, and led and managed by Sports Coordinator Nadav Davidovich, the event manager who worked day and night to ensure the impressive and distinguished success of this important tournament.
And for those who don't know? … The "Schwager Cup" tournament is an active life's work in commemoration of the late Schwager, which is being played this year for the 25th consecutive year. The traditional tournament is held every year in Moshav Tserufa, where Schwager lived for many years, and over the years has become a household name and a big, happy cultural and sports event for children, the whole family, and all football fans of all ages, from young to old.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that many good people came to the game to honor the memory of the late Shwager, former veteran players of the Greens from Haifa who played on the field, including: Avraham (Amed) Aboukert, currently the coach of the veterans' team, Moshe Selecter, the legendary former player who also stood on the lines for the Greens, goalkeeper Gil Ofek, who was the manager of Maccabi Haifa's senior team and was recently appointed manager of Maccabi Haifa's youth department, goalkeeper Danny Shoshan, Arik Koren, Asher Bohdana, Assi Avrahami, Shahar Siman-Tov and his brother Nadiv Siman-Tov, the son of the late Shwager, Ailon Shwager, Gadi Ohayon, Tzabar Daniel, Shai Politi, Kobi Shriki, Eli (Toti) Oved, Yigal Zavlonov, Erez Karakogli. We should note that the game was refereed correctly, as usual, by referee Or Ben Ami.
Many public figures and people from the world of football and sports in Haifa and in general in Israel also came to honor the memory of the late Schwager, including: Eitan Aharoni, former goalkeeper Nir Davidovitz, manager of the veterans' team Aryeh Barzilai, the adoptive mother of Maccabi Haifa's former veterans, CEO and owner of the "La Capella" hotel in Haifa, Daphne Ullman, Shlomo Benado, Avraham Moreno, Aharon Gershgorn, Shlomo Benado, Haim Forte, Gabi Yifrach, who was known for many years as "Gabi Aron Kir", Pini Sharon, Moshe (Palvera) Leibman, Head of the Hof Carmel Regional Council Asif Isaac, Rafi Avni, Deputy Head of the Hof Carmel Regional Council, Director of the Sports Department of the Hof Carmel Regional Council Adi Rabaun, Sports Coordinator Nadav Davidovitz, Sigal Davidovitz, Secretary of the Sports Department And many more good ones that the canvas is too short to contain.
At the end of the Legends game, Keren Hajjaj, the daughter of the late Yeshayahu (Shaya) Schwager, spoke very moving words about her father. Among other things, in her speech, she said: "The last stop, Dad lived and breathed football every moment of his life. Sometimes he breathed football as a player, coach, spectator on the field or watching from the couch. Football was the blood that flowed through his veins and the joy that shook his heartstrings. You Maccabi Haifa veterans and fans were his family and he loved it.
"With all his heart. Dad was a strong player – he knew how to jump to surprising heights, run and plan moves, but most of all Dad was a loving, sensitive man, a loyal friend. In his life, Dad did not win any major titles, but he was honored to enter the history books and play in the World Cup in "Mexico 70" with the one and only team that qualified for the games. He was honored to wear the Maccabi Haifa uniform that he loved so much and was the team captain for many years."
The event was open to the general public and, according to tradition, the audience was also an active part of the event, where participants and spectators enjoyed teqball table games operated by "Teqball Israel", music, raffles, prizes, umbrellas, seating coupons, cold drinks, popcorn, ice cream and popsicles, cotton candy, watermelons, dictionaries and seasonal fruits, and many other surprises throughout the event and in abundance, all of which are of course free of charge.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that another of the organizers of the cup tournament and exhibition game named after the late Yeshayahu (Shaya) Schwager was, of course, his son, former player Ailon Schwager, who was as excited as always at the event, and said: "I have immense excitement, I am all excited here today to see all the crowds who came to honor the memory of my late father, and all this despite the fact that 25 years have passed, and this is not at all obvious. This is proof of what a beloved figure and personality my father was. It is no secret that the "Schwager Tournament" from a family tournament has long since become the property of the public, and this is what is beautiful, important, and especially exciting to me.
On behalf of the entire Schwager family, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for honoring us with your presence this year as well. The special tradition of the "Schwager Cup", which has been going on for over 2 decades, is largely thanks to you. Thanks to your friendship, loyalty, sportsmanship and willingness to come every year anew and be a part of this special day. For us, your presence is much more than a football game. It is a gesture of respect, friendship and memory, and it is what gives the cup its true meaning. A special thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of this day and for continuing to uphold this beautiful and honorable tradition with us, with love and appreciation, from the entire Schwager family."
Thank you to all the partners in this project that has been going on for 25 years, thank you to the Maccabi "Shaya" Haifa Pre-A team (holding the State Cup) who came to the exhibition game and to lap with the cup, thank you to the Maccabi Haifa and Hof Carmel legends for the exhibition game in the best tradition of the Schweger Cup. Thank you to the Tserufa and Atlit teams for a thrilling final game and fascinating football! Thank you to the Mirab Center Sports Department, Siggi, Nadav, Adi and the entire team for the organization and work, without you none of this would have happened! Thank you to Moshav Tzrufa, the Moshav Tzrufa Committee and all the residents who joined in the success of the event. Thank you to Moti Mizrahi, Idan Hagnan, Elroei Atiya, Amram Adato, Doron Sadon Merav, the community manager, and many more. Thank you to all the operators of the fruit, popcorn, sugar, popsicles and drinks stands. Thank you to Taqball Israel for operating the Taqball tables throughout the event. Thank you to Niko and Gilad! Thank you to Asif Isaac, Head of the Hof Carmel Council, and Rafi Avni, Deputy Head of the Council, for all the support and cooperation over the many years in the Schwager Cup project."
Yeshayahu (Shaya) Schwager, considered the best defender of Maccabi Haifa of all time, played 410 games (360 league games and 50 cup games) for the team in 14 seasons. Schwager played as the team captain for several seasons. “The Boss” and “The Last Station” were nicknames that accompanied him throughout the years. Despite his illustrious career, he did not win a title with the team. After Schwager’s death, the Maccabi Haifa Football Club decided to commemorate his memory and a children’s team called Maccabi Yeshayahu Haifa was named after the late Schwager.
The late Schwegger played with the Israel national team in the 1970 World Cup, the only World Cup for which the team qualified to date, which was held in Mexico. Schwegger excelled in the match against the Italian team when he masterfully guarded the striker Luigi Riva, who was one of the best players in the world. Schwegger appeared 37 times in the uniform of the Israeli national team during his career. On 31.8.2000 he died of cardiac arrest and was the first player to pass away from the Israeli national team that qualified for the World Cup. He was 54 years old when he died.
There is no doubt that the tournament and games this year were also wonderfully organized and extremely exciting, it was a tradition of excellence, respect, friendship and love of the game. May the memory of former player Yeshayahu (Shaya) Schwager be blessed!
Marilee the Giant