Zamalek appoint Mohamed Alaa ‘Loka’ as handball sporting director

Zamalek have appointed former player Mohamed Alaa, known as “Loka”, as sporting director of their first-team handball department.

Loka signed his contract in the presence of Zamalek vice-president Hisham Nasr and the club’s director of contracts, Shady Tarek.

The appointment brings a former Zamalek player into a senior management role after a successful playing career with the Cairo club. Loka joined Zamalek in 2017 from El Tayaran and went on to win 16 trophies during his time as a player.

He also represented the Egypt men’s handball team, helping the national side win several honours. Among those successes were the African Nations Cup, the Arab Championship, the Military World Cup and the African Games.

The role forms part of Zamalek’s preparations for the new season, with the club also having appointed Bassem El-Sebky as head coach of the handball team.

El-Sebky is a former Zamalek player and spent 14 years representing the club. During that period, he helped Zamalek win five league titles, five Egypt Cup trophies and two African titles.

His coaching career has also included a highly successful spell with Esperance de Tunis. El-Sebky led the Tunisian club to 15 trophies across five years, including six Tunisian Cup triumphs, five Tunisian league titles, an African Champions League crown, an African Cup Winners’ Cup and two Arab Championship victories.

He also guided Esperance de Tunis to fifth place at the Handball Club World Cup.

El-Sebky has enjoyed further success on the international stage. He led Kuwait to three Asian Handball Championship titles and took charge of the national team at two editions of the World Championship.

Zamalek’s decision to place Loka in charge of sporting matters therefore comes alongside the return of a coach with a substantial history at the club and a wide range of domestic, continental and international experience.

Loka’s previous achievements with Zamalek and Egypt provide him with a strong connection to both the club and the sport’s wider national set-up. His work as sporting director will now coincide with El-Sebky’s return to the club in a coaching capacity as Zamalek prepare for the start of the new campaign.

The announcement was made on Friday, 7 August 2026.