Zamalek president admits board errors and $7m debt burden

Zamalek president Hussein Labib says the club’s board is responsible for new debts of between $6m and $7m, while admitting he would change its composition if given the chance to start again.

Labib said his administration had inherited financial commitments worth more than two billion Egyptian pounds and had paid almost one billion pounds of that total. However, he acknowledged that further liabilities had accumulated during the current board’s time in office.

The president also gave his administration a rating of no more than four out of 10, saying one or three board members had not been in agreement with the rest. He identified the withdrawal of Zamalek’s land in 6th of October City as the worst day of his presidency.

Maali case and registration ban

Speaking on ON Sport, Labib rejected the suggestion that a failure to translate a letter from FIFA had caused the dispute involving Abdelhamid Maali.

He said Zamalek had appealed against the punishment before reaching a settlement with the player and submitting it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, along with a request to suspend the disciplinary sanction. The request was rejected despite the club having paid the player’s dues, Labib added, insisting translation had not been an issue in the case.

Zamalek are hoping to have their disciplinary registration ban lifted before the next winter transfer window. The club is making sustained efforts to achieve that, although the Court of Arbitration for Sport has not yet set a date to hear the case.

Labib said some of the new debt was linked to contractual commitments and financial plans that had not developed as expected. He cited an agreement with Bezira based on revenue the club expected to receive from the 6th of October land, with its withdrawal subsequently complicating the calculations.

The club has also not yet received the necessary approvals to obtain a plot of land in the Fifth Settlement, which Labib said was intended to compensate for some of the losses.

He denied that former president Mamdouh Abbas interfered in board decisions, describing their relationship as one based on discussion and the exchange of views. Labib also thanked Abbas for substantial financial donations, stressing that they were not debts owed by Zamalek.

Squad decisions and future plans

Labib named Imam Ashour as the biggest loss among Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Achraf Bencharki. He ruled out a return for Zizo and said he had not attempted to sign any Al Ahly player in response to Zizo’s move to Zamalek’s rivals.

He said Zamalek needed reinforcements in midfield and on both wings, as well as a change in playing style. Manager Moataz Gamal prefers to hold training sessions away from the club’s headquarters, Labib added, saying that decision belonged to the coach.

Labib described Zamalek’s African competition group as difficult but believes the team can reach the final. He blamed shortcomings in the club’s indoor sports on the absence of properly established teams, coaches and youth structures when the board took charge, as well as mistakes in selecting some coaches and players. He said work had begun to restore Zamalek’s position in those sports.

Labib said it was too early to discuss the next elections and that no member had yet asked for his advice. He also denied any breakdown in relations with Al Ahly’s board.