![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_6034.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nLast season, the 25-year-old primarily came off the bench, often making an immediate impact. He scored several crucial goals, including a vital equalizer against Hapoel Be\u2019er Sheva in the championship playoffs and a winner against Maccabi Bnei Reineh. He also scored a hat-trick against Hapoel Petah Tikva last October.<\/p>\n
Muzie has shown he can cause problems for opponents whether deployed in midfield, on the wing or at wing-back, making him a valuable asset for the yellow-and-black. Questions remain, however, about his ability to establish himself as a regular starter and which position best suits him. Perhaps he simply needs a sustained run of games to demonstrate what he can do.<\/p>\n
One thing is already clear: Muzie is an impact player with qualities that can change a game.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_5929.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nHis role was uncertain at the start of the season, particularly with Beitar competing in Europe. He featured in all four matches against AEK Larnaca and Austria Vienna before being left on the bench for the disappointing 4-1 defeat to Maccabi Netanya.<\/p>\n
Muzie subsequently started at left-back in a difficult 3-0 loss, but he kept his place for the next three matches, all of which Beitar won. In the process, he appeared to seize the opportunity to establish himself on the left side of the defense.<\/p>\n
Cohen believes Muzie has continued to improve in a position he already knows well.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_6154.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cFirst of all, if I\u2019m not mistaken, Muzie played at left-back at Kiryat Shmona, while at Hapoel Nof HaGalil he played right-back. So it\u2019s a position he knows how to play. I think he has improved even more in that position now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way we play, with attacking full-backs who have strong physical abilities, really suits him. I\u2019m very happy with Timo. I think he understands that he needs to keep raising his level with every game, and I\u2019m happy we have a player like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Muzie was pleased to hear his coach\u2019s assessment, recognizing that he still has room to grow as he adapts to his new role.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_7516.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cIt\u2019s nice to hear that my coach feels that way. It\u2019s good feedback to know you\u2019re doing the right things, progressing and ultimately helping the team succeed. Playing left-back is still an adjustment, but I\u2019m getting there little by little.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players around me, whether the center-backs or the wingers, help and guide me, which makes things much easier. Along with Almog and the coaching staff, it\u2019s been good progress. Versatility, that\u2019s the word, right? And I enjoy it. I\u2019m really enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That versatility should continue to work in Muzie\u2019s favor even after Yarden Cohen returns, particularly with the injured defender reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery. While some may consider Muzie underrated, the player is more concerned with contributing wherever he is needed than with how others perceive him.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_6094.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cI come in to contribute wherever I\u2019m needed, whether it\u2019s here or there, wherever I can and whenever I can. You guys can say what you think and judge whether I\u2019m underrated or not, but that\u2019s not for me to decide. It doesn\u2019t matter that much. I\u2019ll just do my part.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to start. But ultimately, what matters is finishing the game with an assist or a goal, helping the team come from behind to win or preserving a lead. The disappointment of not starting is replaced by the happiness of knowing you helped and contributed, because people trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having Muzie available from the opening whistle also gives Cohen greater tactical flexibility. With players capable of filling multiple roles, the coach can adjust his formation during a match without necessarily having to turn to his bench.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_1665.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\n\u201cI think that right now, whether the system is 3-5-2, 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 doesn\u2019t really matter. Ultimately, sometimes you attack in a 3-4-3 and sometimes you defend in a 3-5-2. Football today is very fluid. You change formations during the game, and sometimes you attack in one shape and defend in another.\u201d<\/p>\n
For both Cohen and Muzie, the immediate priority is to pick up where Beitar left off before the lengthy international break. A win over Ramat Gan would provide further momentum ahead of the team’s return to Teddy Stadium to host Maccabi Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n
The match against Maccabi will be Beitar\u2019s first genuine home fixture of the season at Teddy, where the club will play on a new hybrid pitch. With more than 30,000 fans expected and a new light-rail line providing direct access to the train station and central bus station, the occasion promises to be a major one.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_0053.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nCohen, however, insists his focus remains firmly on Sunday’s opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a fairly long break, and I think we\u2019ll come into the match against Hapoel Ramat Gan very well prepared. To say the break stopped our momentum would be an excuse. Maccabi Tel Aviv doesn\u2019t interest me at all right now. I\u2019m only interested in Hapoel Ramat Gan. For me, that\u2019s the most important game.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaccabi Tel Aviv isn\u2019t even on our minds. We haven\u2019t watched them, and nothing about them is in our heads right now. It\u2019s all about Hapoel Ramat Gan, and they\u2019re an excellent team.\u201d
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_1623.jpg\")
Almog Cohen – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nMuzie echoed his coach\u2019s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the progress made before the break.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe winning streak was very important for us after a somewhat shaky start to the season. Now it\u2019s about continuing on the path we\u2019ve been on since our last game, whether in friendlies or training, maintaining the things we\u2019ve done well and continuing to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cHapoel Ramat Gan are a very good team. We saw that when we played them in the Toto Cup. We\u2019ll be as prepared as possible, and then we\u2019ll turn our attention to the following week\u2019s game against Maccabi. But right now, we\u2019re preparing for a very difficult match against Hapoel Ramat Gan, and with God\u2019s help, we\u2019ll get those three points.\u201d
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_1660.jpg\")
Timoti Muzie – Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman<\/p><\/div>
\nCohen knows his Beitar side has the talent and depth to compete for the championship, but he also understands that potential must translate into consistent results. For the coach, the expectations are straightforward: keep winning and build on the momentum already established.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a strong team needs to win before the break, after the break and at all times. Our expectation is always to win, and there are no excuses as far as I\u2019m concerned. We need to maintain the same momentum we had in terms of the fans, the results and the way we were playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do need to learn how to finish games more decisively, but I\u2019m sure that, God willing, we\u2019ll continue exactly where we left off.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Beitar Jerusalem returns to action Sunday with a trip to Rechovot to face Hapoel Ramat Gan, looking to extend its three-game winning streak from before the international break. Almog Cohen\u2019s side will take on the newly promoted club for the second time this season, having already faced them in the Toto Cup, before turning its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":193188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[55],"class_list":["post-193154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-israel-2","tag-beitar-jerusalem","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n