[ 2011-05-17 ]

Yahaya Seidu in white shirt celebrated with his team-mates late into the night

Yahaya Seidu clinches Israel league title with Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa midfielder Yahaya Seidu has become
the second Ghanaian to win the league title in
Europe this season after his club clinched the
Israeli league title last night.

Maccabi Haifa won the Israeli league title with a
game to spare after beating Hapoel Kiryat Shmona
2-0 Monday night, a result that put them six
points clear of Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The influential midfielder joins Kevin Prince
Boateng of AC Milan as the two Ghanaians to win
the league title in Europe this term.

Seidu has been one of the key players for Haifa as
they conquered the league which has many Ghanaian
players.

The victory means he will play in the Uefa
Champions League next season.

Haifa’s steady form in the 16-team Premier
League secured a 12th title for the club from
Israel’s northern port city who along with
Hapoel have consistently been one the country’s
top sides over the past three decades.

Compared with previous championships when they
totally dominated their opponents, Haifa did not
always produce sparkling performances this season
but no other team could match their consistency.


A capacity 15,000 crowd at Haifa’s Kiryat
Eliezer Stadium cheered the victory and witnessed
a fireworks display from their seats, refraining
from the pitch invasions that have been a regular
feature of championship celebrations in recent
years.

Haifa needed one point to secure the title and,
after a lacklustre first half, attacking
midfielder Lior Refaelov scored with a 63rd-minute
penalty and struck again 10 minutes later.

Haifa can complete the double when they play
Hapoel Tel Aviv in the State Cup final next week,
a first-ever meeting between the sides in the
competition.

Haifa, Israel’s first representatives in the
Champions League group stages in 2002, will play
in the latter stages of the competition’s
qualifying rounds aiming to reach the group stage
for the third time.

Seidu has been one of the top Ghanaian performers
in Europe this season but has not been given the
chance to play in any of the national teams.

Source - Ghanasoccer

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