Zamalek Club has entered a new phase of controversy before the start of the new season after the technical director file turned into a clear point of contention between the board of directors led by Hussein Labib, and John Edward, the sports director, at a time when the club is going through a financial crisis that has affected more than one file within the football team.
In the following lines, Yalla Koura reveals the details of the coach crisis between Hussein Labib and John Edward.
Board of Directors sticks with Mo'tamed Gamal
Zamalek's management, led by Hussein Labib and a number of board members, believes that Mo'tamed Gamal is the most suitable to lead the team during the current stage given the limited time before the season starts, his full knowledge of the team and players, in addition to his success in dealing with the pressures the club has faced in the recent period.
Zamalek officials are also wary of the idea of contracting with a foreign technical director at the present time, whether due to the CV of the Serbian coach Vuk Rašović, or because of the financial cost of contracting with him and his coaching staff, which could reach $90,000 per month.
John Edward insists on Rašović
In contrast, sports director John Edward insists on contracting with the Serbian Vuk Rašović, after reaching a preliminary agreement with him, and believes the team needs a foreign technical director who brings new ideas and leads the team in the upcoming season.
Despite the sports director's desire to conclude the file quickly, the board of directors' objection so far has prevented the official announcement of the deal, leaving the state of division inside the White Castle ongoing.
Financial crisis adds further complexity to the scene
The disagreement is no longer limited to technical aspects only, but the financial crisis is playing a major role in delaying the resolution of the file, especially with the board of directors' reservations about taking on new financial commitments regarding the foreign coach, which has made Mo'tamed Gamal's continuation a strongly considered option inside the club.
Preparations halted
With the identity of the technical director still undecided between Egyptian or foreign, Zamalek has not yet set a date for the start of preparations for the new season, nor has it settled on holding a training camp despite the imminent start of the league competitions.
A number of the team's players had called for the necessity of starting collective training as soon as possible, even if the dues crisis continues, out of fear of the short preparation period and the potential technical decline or increased risk of injuries that could result from it.
The coming hours will decide the matter
Zamalek awaits a new decisive meeting in the coming hours between the board of directors and John Edward to settle the identity of the technical director, whether by retaining Mo'tamed Gamal or officially concluding the deal with Rašović, so that the team can begin the preparation period before the start of the new season.
